The shortlist for the 2008 Victorian Premier's Literary Awards was announced on Friday, 8 August, by Arts Minister Lynne Kosky at the State Library of Victoria.
The shortlist for the 2008 Victorian Premier's Literary Awards was announced on Friday, 8 August, by Arts Minister Lynne Kosky at the State Library of Victoria.
The 2008 Awards are in the categories of fiction, nonfiction, young adult fiction, an unpublished manuscript by an emerging Victorian writer, poetry, drama, essay, history, Indigenous writing, journalism, music theatre, and writing about Italians in Australia. The winning writers will share a total prize pool of $210,000.
‘For 24 years the Victorian Premier's Literary Awards have celebrated and promoted excellence in Australia writing. They play an important role not just in recognising Australian writers and their contribution to our culture, but also fostering and uncovering new talent,' said Kosky.
In the 24th year of the Awards, there was a record number of entries in the prize for a first book of history and the prize for Indigenous writing categories.
For the first time a $15,000 Prize for Best Music Theatre Script is offered this year, rewarding excellence in Australian musical theatre, and reflecting the strength of the form in Victoria.
The shortlisted titles are:
The Vance Palmer Prize for Fiction ($30,000):
The Nettie Palmer Prize for Non-fiction ($30,000):
The C J Dennis Prize for Poetry ($15,000):
The Prize for Young Adult Fiction ($15,000):
The Prize for a First Book of History ($15,000):
The Alfred Deakin Prize for an Essay Advancing Public Debate ($15,000):
The Prize for Indigenous Writing ($15,000):
The Prize for an Unpublished Manuscript by an Emerging Victorian Writer ($15,000):
The Grollo Ruzzene Foundation Prize for Writing about Italians in Australia ($15,000):
‘This is an exciting time for literature in Melbourne and Victoria as we await the outcome of our bid to become recognised internationally by UNESCO as a "City of Literature",' said Kosky.
Work has also commenced on Australia's first ‘Centre for Books, Writing and Ideas', which will become a meeting place for the literary community, and will be located at the State Library of Victoria.
The winners will be announced on 1 September at a celebratory dinner hosted by Jennifer Byrne (First Tuesday Book Club) at Zinc, Federation Square, Melbourne. A keynote address will be delivered by author Alice Pung, and the awards will be presented by the Premier of Victoria John Brumby.
http://www.booksellerandpublisher.com.au/articles/2008/08/09119/