Honouring Richard Flanagan & Awards to Inspire Our Writers

Today’s reception for Tasmanian author Richard Flanagan was a tremendous opportunity to celebrate his 2014 Man Booker Prize and enduring contribution to literature and Tasmania.

The acclaim for Richard’s novel The Narrow Road to the Deep North truly establishes his status as the greatest Australian novelist of his time.

Through The Narrow Road to the Deep North, Richard shares the deeply personal story of his late father Archie, and like so many of his stories, it brings readers to our island.

Richard’s deep connection with his island home not only inspires his novels, it inspires readers the world over and is a great source of pride for Tasmanians.

On behalf of all Tasmanians, I congratulate Richard on his accomplishments and thank him for sharing his stories with us.

We want to support Tasmanian writers and those who write about our state, which is why I am also pleased to announce that the Liberal Government will sponsor Tasmania’s biennial literary awards, the Premier’s Literary Prizes 2015.

We will provide $25,000 for the Tasmanian Book Prize for the best book with Tasmanian content, while the University of Tasmania will sponsor the $5,000 Margaret Scott Prize for the best book by a Tasmania writer and the $5,000 University of Tasmania Prize for the best new unpublished literary work by an emerging Tasmanian Writer.

I am also very excited to announce a new prize, the $5,000 Young Writer’s Prize for young Tasmanian writers aged 35 or under, made possible by philanthropic donations.

For entry details go to www.arts.tas.gov.au/plp
Will Hodgman, Premier