In August I wrote a progress report on Finlay Lloyd's 20/40 Publishing Prize, a prize in which I have special interest because I love novella-length writing and the publisher behind this prize, Finlay Lloyd. So just a quick recap on the prize: 20/40 is a manuscript award, with the prize being publication. It is not … Continue reading Finlay Lloyd 20/40 Publishing Prize 2025: Winners announced
Literary awards
Louise Erdrich, The night watchman (#BookReview)
Louise Erdrich's Pulitzer Prizewinning The night watchman is historical fiction about a community fighting back against a government set on "terminating them". Erdrich, whom I have reviewed before, is an enrolled citizen of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians of North Dakota and it is the story of this community's response to something called the … Continue reading Louise Erdrich, The night watchman (#BookReview)
Prime Minister’s Literary Awards 2025, Winners
In lieu of my usual Monday Musings post, I am reporting on the 2025 Prime Minister's Literary Awards which were announced this evening, and which I attended via the live-stream from the Creative Australia website. I shared the short list several weeks ago, so I won't repeat those here. The awards ceremony was a long … Continue reading Prime Minister’s Literary Awards 2025, Winners
Monday musings on Australian literature: Creative Australia Awards in Literature
Creative Australia is the - how shall we say it - rebranded Australia Council for the Arts / Australia Council. Under whatever name it has, this is the body that serves as the major arts funding and advisory body for the Australian Government. You can read its history on Wikipedia if you are interested. The Australia Council … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Creative Australia Awards in Literature
2025 Mark and Evette Moran Nib Literary Award shortlist
This is a quick post because I'm on the road in Japan, but I do like the Mark and Evette Moran Nib Literary Awards, and their shortlist has just been announced, so here is a quick post. Just to recap if you don't recollect my previous posts on this award, it is not limited by … Continue reading 2025 Mark and Evette Moran Nib Literary Award shortlist
Monday musings on Australian literature: Michael Crouch Award
The Michael Crouch Award is part of the National Biography Award (NBA) suite of prizes. I have written about the NBA before, but have never specifically focused on the Michael Crouch Award. But first, a quick recap ... the National Biography Award has been going since 1996, and celebrates excellence in life writing, that is, … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Michael Crouch Award
Monday musings on Australian literature: Finlay Lloyd’s 20/40 Publishing Prize, progress report
Nearly three years ago, I reported on a new literary prize, the 20/40 Publishing Prize which was being offered by the non-profit publisher, Finlay Lloyd. It has now been awarded in both 2023 and 2024, and preparations for announcing the 2025 winners are well under way. Briefly, the aim of the award is to "encourage … Continue reading Monday musings on Australian literature: Finlay Lloyd’s 20/40 Publishing Prize, progress report
Prime Minister’s Literary Awards Shortlist 2025, announced
I haven't announced the Prime Minister's Literary Award shortlists for a few years, but for various reasons, including the fact that there is a Poetry section which works nicely with this month being National Poetry Month (see my Monday Musings), I've decided to share this year's shortlists. Creative Australia's page for the announcement says they … Continue reading Prime Minister’s Literary Awards Shortlist 2025, announced
Wayne Bergmann and Madelaine Dickie, Some people want to shoot me (#BookReview)
Having finally read Wayne Bergmann and Madelaine Dickie's Some people want to shoot me, I am not surprised that it has been shortlisted in the Nonfiction category of this year's Western Australian Premier's Book Awards. It is moving; it is clearly written; and it is informative about big issues. Wayne Bergmann is a Nyikina* man … Continue reading Wayne Bergmann and Madelaine Dickie, Some people want to shoot me (#BookReview)
Miles Franklin Award 2025 winner announced
The winner of the 2025 Miles Franklin Literary Award, worth AUD60,000, was announced this evening by Australian journalist Fran Kelly during her program, The Radio National Hour. And the winner is: Siang Lu's Ghost cities Kelly described the novel as being about an "epic conquest of ancient empires and tyrannical leaders", and also about "what … Continue reading Miles Franklin Award 2025 winner announced
Whispering Gums 