Shortlist for the 2023 Indie Book Awards Announced!

Launched in 2008, the Indie Book Awards recognise and celebrate this country’s incredible literary talent and who better to nominate and judge the best-of-the-best than indie booksellers – the ultimate champions of great Australian writing!

The Category Winners and the Overall Book of the Year Winner will be announced at a virtual awards event on Monday 20 March 2023. Click here for more information.

The Shortlist for the Indie Book Awards 2023 is below. Did your favourite reads of 2022 make the list?

FICTION

Limberlost by Robby Arnott (Text Publishing)

Horse by Geraldine Brooks (Hachette Australia)

Seeing Other People by Diana Reid (Ultimo Press)

The Seven Skins of Esther Wilding by Holly Ringland (Fourth Estate Australia)

NON-FICTION

The Book Of Roads And Kingdoms by Richard Fidler (ABC Books, HarperCollins Australia)

The First Astronomers by Duane Hamacher, with Elders and Knowledge Holders (Allen & Unwin)

Nothing Bad Ever Happens Here by Heather Rose (Allen & Unwin)

The Ninth Life of a Diamond Miner by Grace Tame (Macmillan Australia)

DEBUT FICTION

Wake by Shelley Burr (Hachette Australia)

All That’s Left Unsaid by Tracey Lien (HQ Fiction, HarperCollins)

Son of Sin by Omar Sakr (Affirm Press)

Dirt Town by Hayley Scrivenor (Macmillan Australia)

ILLUSTRATED NON-FICTION

First Nations Food Companion by Damien Coulthard and Rebecca Sullivan (Murdoch Books)

Big Beautiful Female Theory by Eloise Grills (Affirm Press)

Cressida Campbell by National Gallery of Australia (National Gallery of Australia)

RecipeTin Eats: Dinner by Nagi Maehashi (Macmillan Australia)

CHILDREN’S

Frank’s Red Hat by Sean E Avery (Walker Books Australia)

Ceremony: Welcome to Our Country by Adam Goodes and Ellie Laing, illustrated by David Hardy (Allen & Unwin Children’s)

Guardians: Wylah the Koorie Warrior 1 by Jordan Gould and Richard Pritchard (Albert Street Books)

Runt by Craig Silvey (Allen & Unwin)

YOUNG ADULT

Cop and Robber by Tristan Bancks (Puffin)

The Museum of Broken Things by Lauren Draper (Text Publishing)

Unnecessary Drama by Nina Kenwood (Text Publishing)

The Brink by Holden Sheppard (Text Publishing)