Last November, I announced the creation of the new 20/40 Publishing Prize by independent, non-profit publisher, Finlay Lloyd. And then, early this month, I announced the shortlist for the inaugural prize. Today, I announce the Winners.
First though, I’ll remind you that 20/40 is a manuscript award, with the prize being publication. It is not limited to debut or young or women or any other subgroup of writers, as some manuscript awards are. However, it does have some criteria, in addition to looking for “writing of the highest quality”. Submissions must be prose, and must be between 20,000 and 40,000 words (hence the name). Outside of these criteria, works submitted can be “all genres … including hybrid forms”. The plan is to choose two winners, as they have this year, and they hope to run this prize for many years to come.
And now, the Winners
From six on the shortlist, we now have our two winners:
- Rebecca Burton, Ravenous girls. FL says “Stories of family dysfunction often expose us to relentless failure. And while Ravenous Girls is about the tensions and growing distance between two sisters—the elder burdened by anorexia, the younger by self-doubt—it is distinguished by its lithe and tender understanding of the complexities of growing up.”. Burton is an editor, and author of two young adult novels, Leaving Jetty Road and Beyond Evie, both published by HarperCollins Australia.
- Kim Kelly, Ladies’ Rest and Writing Room. FL says “Two young women, brought up to expect conventional lives, are thrown together in unexpected circumstances. Each has suffered a devastating loss that challenges their belief in life and themselves. It’s rare to come across a work of deep psychological insight conveyed with such verve and lightness of touch”. Kelly is known to many already, I think, as the author of historical fiction, most if not all published now by Brio Books.
Finlay Lloyd had hoped to make one award to fiction and one to non-fiction, but there were not enough strong non-fiction entries this year. They hope this changes as the prize becomes better known. I hope so too, as I enjoy creative non-fiction.
You can read Finlay Lloyd’s announcement here. Also, Lisa has read the winners, while I plan to read them for Novellas in November. Here is Lisa’s post.
It would be great to see Aussie readers, not to mention others, get behind this publishing prize. You can order the winners at Finlay Lloyd, with a special deal if you buy the two.
There is to be a launch of the books in Canberra on 18 November. If you will be in town that day, and would like to attend, comment here, and I will contact you with the details.
Whispering Gums 
Seem fairly similar in theme to this illiterate ..
I can see how those descriptions might suggest that MR, but let’s see what I find when I read them. The time settings are different, but I can say about the themes yet.
I am prepared, she said loftily, to read what you offer. But it’s possible I may end up saying the same thing, regardless. And where has the cursor gone, I ask ?? – vot iss goink on ? Sometimes I hate WordPress so much that I want to throw my laptop onto the floor in a hissy fit ..
I feel your pain MR, but what is our alternative.
As for your response, I am prepared.
[grin]
Theresa has reviewed the winners too: https://theresasmithwrites.com/2023/10/28/the-20-40-prize-2023/
Thanks Lisa.
An interesting prize and two worthy winners, and hurray for the novella.
Absolutely Claire. It’s a great prize, and yes, I love the novella too.
Hi,
I would like to attend the launch of these books in Canberra. Could you please send me details.
Meg Boland
Great Meg. Have sent to your gmail address.
Well, it’s taken me till Tuesday to get over receiving Monday Musings on a Sunday . I’m glad Kim Kelly was a winner. I like authors who are also bloggers (and if I wish she’d give up Hist.fic because she’s shown that she writes excellent contemporary fic., I’ll keep that to myself).
Haha, Bill, just checking you are watching! Seriously though, that wasn’t meant to be titled Monday Musings – the old copy and paste issue – and I did fixe the title on the post. I am completely off my game at the moment, and hope I get it back soon.
There is a real Monday Musings too!
I plan to read Kim Kelly next. Expect to finish Ravenous girls later tonight.
Awww, that must have been disappointing for anyone who’d contributed to the potential pool of non-fiction manuscripts/publications…to hear that there weren’t enough works of quality.
Yes … I did think that too but maybe the issue is that there were hardly any. And I guess they need to know. I don’t know what feedback submissions got if any.