Following a rigorous judging process, The Stella 2025 judges Astrid Edwards (Chair), Debra Dank, Leah Jing McIntosh, Yassmin Abdel-Magied, and Rick Morton have chosen six outstanding works, three non-fiction and three fiction, to make up the 2025 Stella Prize Shortlist.
“This year’s shortlist is consequential for Australian literary history, as it is the first time the Stella Shortlist features only women of colour,” said chair Astrid Edwards.
“Now in its 13th year, these works showcase an incredible command of craft and understanding of our uncertain time. These works are riveting, and they stood out to the judging panel for their integrity, compassion and fearlessness.”
The 2025 Stella Prize Shortlist is:
- Black Convicts by Santilla Chingaipe (non-fiction)
- Black Witness by Amy McQuire (non-fiction)
- Cactus Pear For My Beloved by Samah Sabawi (non-fiction)
- The Burrow by Melanie Cheng (fiction)
- Theory & Practice by Michelle de Kretser (fiction)
- Translations by Jumaana Abdu (fiction)
Each of the shortlisted authors receives $4,000 in prize money. This year, Stella received over 180 entries vying for the annual Stella Prize award of $60,000 for one extraordinary book, announced on 23 May at the Sydney Writers Festival.
For the first time in Stella history, the winner announcement will be open to the public to join judges Astrid Edwards, Debra Dank, Leah Jing Mcintosh and Rick Morton to honour the incredible talent of this year’s longlisted, shortlisted and winning authors and celebrate the stories shaping Australian literature today.
Now in its thirteenth year, the Stella Prize remains a key force in Australia’s literary scene, championing and amplifying the voices and stories of women and non-binary individuals.
The winning book of fiction, nonfiction, or poetry will be deemed by the judges to be original, excellent and engaging. Books entered in the 2025 Stella Prize must be first published between 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2024.
Past winners of the Stella Prize include: Alexis Wright, 2024, Praiseworthy; Sarah Holland-Batt, 2023 (The Jaguar); Evelyn Araluen, 2022 (Dropbear); Evie Wyld, 2021 (The Bass Rock); Jess Hill, 2020 (See What You Made Me Do); Vicki Laveau-Harvie, 2019 (The Erratics); Alexis Wright, 2018 (Tracker); Heather Rose, 2017 (The Museum of Modern Love); Charlotte Wood, 2016 (The Natural Way of Things); Emily Bitto, 2015 (The Strays); Clare Wright, 2014 (The Forgotten Rebels of Eureka); and Carrie Tiffany, 2013 (Mateship with Birds).
The Stella Prize will announced on Friday 23 May 2025. For more information, visit: www.thestellaprize.com.au for details.
Image: The Stella Prize 2025 Shortlist Book Covers (supplied)