Vanessa Goodwin, Minister for the Arts
The Hodgman Government actively promotes programs to support the professional development of the state’s arts workers and to strengthen Tasmania’s cultural and creative industries, providing ongoing opportunities and employment.
Today it is my pleasure to congratulate local author, Katherine Johnson, on the publication of her second novel, The Better Son (Ventura Press, 2016).
Set in Mole Creek, the literary thriller is a richly imaginative and powerful new story inspired by the true account of two young boys who discovered one of Tasmania’s most popular tourist caves in 1906 only to keep it secret for years.
Katherine Johnson received investment from the Government through Arts Tasmania in 2011 and 2012 to develop the novel.
The manuscript won the University of Tasmania Prize for best unpublished manuscript in the 2013 Tasmanian Literary Prizes, now known as the Premier’s Literary Prizes.
The $5000 prize is supported by the University of Tasmania.
It’s fantastic to see the prize-winning manuscript reach publication and demonstrates how initiatives such as the Premier’s Literary Prizes can give emerging authors the opportunity to showcase their work, raise their profile and take their career to the next level.
The Better Son will be launched at Fullers Bookshop, 131 Collins Street Hobart, on Friday, October 14 at 5.30 pm.
Entries for the 2017 Premier’s Literary Prizes will open in early 2017.
