Today, as we drove back to Canberra along the Hume Highway, we listened to another episode of the Secrets from the Green Room podcast. We listen to them a bit randomly, depending on the author being interviewed and the topic podcasters Irma and Karen discuss before the interview. Today, we chose the March 2026 interview … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Protagonists at work
Monday musings
Monday musings on Australian literature: Canberra Writers’ Festival 2026 recap
As last year, I would like to thank Colin Steele, who runs the ANU/Meet-the-Author series, for sharing a report on this year's Canberra Writer's Festival that was published in the paywalled Books+Publishing*. The report included some stats: the festival sold 10,300 tickets, which is an increase on last year's figures, but they say that across … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Canberra Writers’ Festival 2026 recap
Monday musings on Australian literature: Queensland Literary Awards Update and 2026 Winners
Those of you who follow literary awards will know something of the history of the Queensland Literary Awards. Originally called the Queensland Premier's Literary Awards, the award was established in 1999, but ended in 2012 when the then new Premier, Campbell Newman, controversially abolished them. There was an outcry, and very quickly the Queensland literary … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Queensland Literary Awards Update and 2026 Winners
Monday musings on Australian literature: Finlay Lloyd’s 20/40 Prize 2026: Winners announced
A couple of weeks ago, I announced the 2026 shortlist for independent non-profit publisher Finlay Lloyd's fourth 20/40 Prize. 20/40 is a novella-length manuscript award for prose works that are between 20,000 and 40,000 words. It is not limited to debut or young or women or any other subgroup of writers, as some manuscript awards … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Finlay Lloyd’s 20/40 Prize 2026: Winners announced
Monday musings on Australian literature: 1949 in fiction
Once again it's Karen's (Kaggsy's Bookish Rambling) and Simon's (Stuck in a Book) "Year Club" week. This time, it is 1949, and it runs from 12th to 18th October, and, as is my practice, I am devoting my Monday Musings to the week. I do enjoy writing these posts, but this one has been a … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: 1949 in fiction
Monday musings on Australian literature: Finlay Lloyd’s 20/40 Prize 2026: Shortlist announced
I'm back ... from my European jaunt, and ready with another Monday Musings (having missed a couple while I was away). And it's one that's special to me, the shortlist for Finlay Lloyd's 20/40 Prize. This prize is now in its fourth year, which is thrilling because it comes from the heart of a small, … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Finlay Lloyd’s 20/40 Prize 2026: Shortlist announced
Monday musings on Australian literature: Forgotten writers 19, Mina Gray
I call this sub-series "Forgotten writers" for a reason, which is, of course, that these writers have been forgotten. But some, dare I say, were more forgotten than others. Mina Gray is one of these. It has taken significant research to uncover even some basic life information for her. There are no entries for her … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Forgotten writers 19, Mina Gray
Monday musings on Australian literature: Prime Minister’s Literary Awards 2026 winners announced
I was busy when the awards were announced last week - actually I am still pretty busy as we are about to leave Italy for France - but I have a moment. As I wrote in my shortlist post, Creative Australia's page says they received 673 entries across six literary categories: fiction, non-fiction, young adult … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Prime Minister’s Literary Awards 2026 winners announced
Monday musings on Australian literature: Australian novels set in Germany
When this post is published Mr Gums and I will be in Germany, having just spent three days in Vienna, so I thought to write something about Australian novels set in Germany. I wrote this post before we left, because I knew I'd have little time while we're travelling. Mr Gums lived in Germany for … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Australian novels set in Germany
Monday musing on Australian literature: on People’s Choice literary awards
Nearly two weeks ago, the longlist was announced for the Mark and Evette Moran Nib Literary Award. This is a significant award that has been going since 2002, and I have written about it before. But, I have never focused on one of its aspects, the People's Choice Award, so this is where we are … Continue reading Monday musing on Australian literature: on People’s Choice literary awards
