The search for Australia’s best books is now on with entries open for the 2024 Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards – with a new award focusing on children’s literature.
Minister for Creative Industries Steve Dimopoulos has called for entries to the awards across seven categories – fiction, non-fiction, poetry, drama, writing for young adults, Indigenous writing and the new children’s literature award, as well as the Unpublished Manuscript Award.
“Melbourne is a global City of Literature and we’re proud to offer the most valuable prize for writers in the country,” said Minister for Creative Industries Steve Dimopoulos.
“We’re proud that the new Children’s Literature award joins the program this year – and encourage emerging writers to put their hat in the ring for the coveted, career-making, Unpublished Manuscript Award.”
A first for 2024, the new Award for Children’s Literature recognises the importance of books for Australia’s youngest readers. The award is open to writing for children aged 0-12 years.
Each category prize is worth $25,000, with winners going into the running for the country’s most valuable literature award – the $100,000 Victorian Prize for Literature, won last year by Jessica Au for her novel Cold Enough for Snow.
Titles published in 2022 and 2023 are eligible for the Award for Children’s Literature. All other category submissions must be works published between 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2023.
First-time authors are encouraged to submit their manuscripts for the career-breaking Award for an Unpublished Manuscript. Last year’s winner Mick Cummins secured a deal with Affirm Press weeks after winning the award, and his book So Close to Home will be published in October.
The winner of the Unpublished Manuscript Award receives $15,000 in prize money and a two-week residency at the McCraith House in Dromana as part of a partnership between the Wheeler Centre and RMIT Culture. The winner of the People’s Choice Award, which is decided by popular vote, receives a $2000 prize.
The Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards are administered by the Wheeler Centre on behalf of the Victorian Government.
“Each year, the Awards celebrate the most extraordinary literary talent in Australia across a number of genres. We encourage writers and publishers to submit their work,” said Wheeler Centre Chair Kate Torney OAM
“The Wheeler Centre is proud to partner with the Victorian Government on the Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards, including the new Award for Children’s Literature, recognising the great importance of literacy from a young age.”
Entries for the Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards close on Sunday 10 September 2023. The winners will be announced at the Awards Ceremony in February 2024. For more information, visit: www.wheelercentre.com for details.
Image: Open book in hands – photo by Hannah Grace | Unsplash