The 2019 Queensland Literary Awards has attracted a record number of entries, with the shortlist of literary hopefuls vying for $253,500 in prize money.
The shortlist for the prestigious awards has today been announced for award categories covering fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and published and unpublished work.
Judges praised the depth and strength of home-grown writing which helped bring new understanding to an increasingly complex world.
The Queensland Literary Awards will be held at State Library on Tuesday 12 November, with a livestream of the ceremony broadcast from 6pm.
Public voting for The Courier-Mail People’s Choice Queensland Book of the Year award closes at 5pm, Monday 14 October.
Quotes from the Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk:
“Congratulations to this year’s finalists of the 2019 Queensland Literary Awards.
“Queensland has incredible home-grown writers and literary talent and I’m proud to continue championing their achievements through these awards which my government has proudly supported since 2015.
“I look forward to announcing the winners at the awards night in November.”
Quotes from State Librarian and CEO Vicki McDonald:
“It is terrific to see a record number of writers vying for these prestigious awards.”
“The 11 per cent increase in entries underscores the work of State Library in amplifying the importance of reading and writing throughout Queensland.”
“We are grateful for the support of our partners – the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland, The University of Queensland, Griffith University, Copyright Agency Cultural Fund, University of Southern Queensland, QUT, The Courier-Mail, and Jenny Summerson and the Hocking Mackie family, through the Queensland Library Foundation.”
“State Library of Queensland is committed to inspiring possibilities through knowledge, stories and creativity.”
2019 Queensland Literary Awards shortlists
Queensland Premier’s Award for a work of State Significance – $25,000
The Night Dragon (UQP) by Matthew Condon
Boy Swallows Universe (HarperCollins) by Trent Dalton
Meditations with Passing Water (Rabbit) by Jake Goetz
Wintering (Text) by Krissy Kneen
Too Much Lip (UQP) by Melissa Lucashenko
Queensland Premier’s Young Publishers and Writers Award – two awards of $12,500 each
Ella Jeffery
Emily O’Grady
Ellen van Neerven
Yen-Rong Wong
The University of Queensland Fiction Book Award – $15,000
Bodies of Men (Hachette) by Nigel Featherstone
Too Much Lip (UQP) by Melissa Lucashenko
Shell (Scribner) by Kristina Olsson
Exploded View (Text) by Carrie Tiffany
Daughter of Bad Times (Allen & Unwin) by Rohan Wilson
The University of Queensland Non-Fiction Book Award – $15,000
Dr Space Junk vs The Universe: Archaeology and the Future (NewSouth) by Alice Gorman
An Unconventional Wife: The Life of Julia Sorrell Arnold (Scribe) by Mary Hoban
Shakespeare’s Library: Unlocking the Greatest Mystery in Literature (Text) by Stuart Kells
The Eastern Curlew (Affirm) by Harry Saddler
Sea People: The Puzzle of Polynesia (HarperCollins) by Christina Thompson
Griffith University Children’s Book Award – $15,000
Leave Taking (UQP) by Lorraine Marwood
Black Cockatoo (Magabala) by Carl Merrison and Hakea Hustler
The Slightly Alarming Tale of the Whispering Wars (Allen & Unwin) by Jaclyn Moriarty
His Name was Walter (HarperCollins) by Emily Rodda
Chalk Boy (Allen & Unwin) by Margaret Wild and Mandy Ord
Griffith University Young Adult Book Award – $15,000
Small Spaces (Walker) by Sarah Epstein
How It Feels to Float (Pan Macmillan) by Helena Fox
Lenny’s Book of Everything (Allen & Unwin) by Karen Foxlee
The Bogan Mondrian (UQP) by Steven Herrick
Catching Teller Crow (Allen & Unwin) by Ambelin Kwaymullina and Ezekiel Kwaymullina
University of Southern Queensland History Book Award – $10,000
From Secret Ballot to Democracy Sausage: How Australia got Compulsory Voting (Text) by Judith Brett
An Unconventional Wife: The Life of Julia Sorrell Arnold (Scribe) by Mary Hoban
Kindred: A Cradle Mountain Love Story (MUP) by Kate Legge
A New History of the Irish in Australia (NewSouth) by Elizabeth Malcolm and Dianne Hall
You Daughters of Freedom: The Australians Who Won the Vote and Inspired the World (Text) by Clare Wright
University of Southern Queensland Steele Rudd Award for a Short Story Collection – $10,000
Zebra: And Other Stories (Pan Macmillan) by Debra Adelaide
The True Colour of the Sea (Penguin Random House) by Robert Drewe
The Drover’s Wives (Brio) by Ryan O’Neill
Judith Wright Calanthe Award for a Poetry Collection – $10,000
Hot Take (Hunter) by Liam Ferney
Newcastle Sonnets (Giramondo) by Keri Glastonbury
That Sight (Cordite) by Marjon Mossammaparast
The Lost Arabs (UQP) by Omar Sakr
Blakwork (Magabala) by Alison Whittaker
QUT Digital Literature Award – $15,000
V[R]ignettes by Mez Breeze
Gothic Body, in Two Parts by Eda Gunaydin
Psychometric Researches by Benjamin Laird
ITERATION – Part 3/Chapter 3 by CB Mako and MJ Flamiano
The Wonders of Lost Trajectories by Jason Nelson
David Unaipon Award for an Emerging Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Writer – $15,000
Eligible entrants will receive author development activities through State Library including mentorship, editorial advice, and guidance on opportunities, pathways and artistic development, in consultation with the Award partners, Copyright Agency Cultural Fund and University of Queensland Press.
Glendower Award for an Emerging Queensland Writer – $15,000
Little Birds by Sue Goldstiver
The Still Point of Being by Karen Hollands
Apparitions by Jack Lio
Henry Hamlet’s Heart by Rhiannon Ratcliffe Wilde
The Courier-Mail People’s Choice Queensland Book of the Year Award – $10,000
Boy Swallows Universe (HarperCollins) by Trent Dalton
Requiem with Yellow Butterflies: A Memoir (UWA Publishing) by James Halford
Wintering (Text) by Krissy Kneen
Too Much Lip (UQP) by Melissa Lucashenko
Brisbane’s Greek Cafes: A Million Malted Milks (Teacup) by Toni Risson
Charles Ulm (Allen & Unwin) by Rick Searle
Adani, Following its Dirty Footsteps (Spinifex) by Lindsay Simpson
Daughter of Bad Times (Allen & Unwin) by Rohan Wilson
For more information: queensland-literary-awards
