Lara Giddings, Premier
Premier and Minister for the Arts, Lara Giddings, today congratulated the authors whose works have been shortlisted for the 2013 Tasmanian Literary Prizes.
“The Tasmanian Literary Prizes have existed in various forms and been awarded biennially since 2001,” Ms Giddings said.
“These prizes give us the opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the extraordinary diversity of Tasmanian writing.”
A total of $35 000 will be awarded across three categories: best book with Tasmanian content in any genre, best book by a Tasmanian writer and best new unpublished literary work by an emerging Tasmanian writer.
“Over eighty books and manuscripts have been nominated for the prizes, including literary and fantasy novels, play scripts, historical non-fiction, short stories, children’s books and poetry.
“The judges have had the difficult task of choosing just nine works for shortlists in the three prize categories.”
The judges for the 2013 Tasmanian Literary Prizes are social scientist and author Ross Honeywill (chair); broadcaster, blogger, reviewer and co-editor of Island Magazine, Rachel Edwards; and Dr Lisa Fletcher, author and lecturer in English at the University of Tasmania.
“I am pleased to announce that, for the first time in the history of the Tasmanian literary prizes, the public will have the opportunity to choose their favourites too,” Ms Giddings said.
“Extracts from the shortlisted books and manuscripts are now available on the Arts Tasmania website so people can read a sample of the work and cast their vote for the best work in the People’s Choice Awards”.
The winners of the Tasmanian Literary Prizes, including the People’s Choice Awards, will be announced at a gala event on Friday, 22 March at the Hobart Town Hall as part of the Tasmanian Writers’ Festival and Ten Days on the Island.
The Tasmanian Literary Prizes are presented by Arts Tasmania in partnership with the University of Tasmania.
The 2013 Tasmanian Literary Prizes Shortlists are:
The Tasmania Book Prize, for the best book with Tasmanian content in any genre – $25,000
1835: The Founding of Melbourne and the Conquest of Australia by James Boyce (Black Inc.)
This Woman by Adrienne Eberhard (Black Pepper)
Last Days of the Mill by Pete Hay and Tony Thorne (Forty Degrees South)
The Roving Party by Rohan Wilson (Allen & Unwin)
The Margaret Scott Prize, for the best book by a Tasmanian writer – $5,000
1835: The Founding of Melbourne and the Conquest of Australia by James Boyce (Black Inc.)
Pedder Dreaming: Olegas Truchanas and A Lost Tasmanian Wilderness by Natasha Cica (University of Queensland Press)
Reading Madame Bovary by Amanda Lohrey (Black Inc.)The Roving Party by Rohan Wilson (Allen & Unwin)
The University of Tasmania Prize, for the best new unpublished literary work by an emerging Tasmanian writer – $5,000
Kubla by Katherine Johnson
Shadow in the Forest by Leigh Swinbourne
Lurching by Ben Walter
To read extracts from the shortlisted works and vote in the People’s Choice Awards visit www.arts.tas.gov.au/tlp
