The Australian and HarperCollins Australia have announced the creation of a major new literary award for Australian storytelling.
The Australian Fiction Prize will be an annual prize for a book-length work of fiction. Open to all Australian writers, the winner will receive prize money of $20,000, plus an advance of $15,000, and publication by HarperCollins Australia.
The Australian’s editor-in-chief Michelle Gunn said: “Storytelling is, of course, in our DNA, here at The Australian. We have many talented authors on our staff, writers of both fiction and non-fiction, including the extraordinary Trent Dalton and our formidable books editor, Caroline Overington.
“The truth is that this masthead has been devoted to covering the nation’s rich literary life since the very early days of the newspaper, 60 years ago. It is part of our commitment to serious coverage of arts, culture and creativity.”
Judge Caroline Overington, The Australian’s literary editor, said: “There is no greater thrill than encountering new talent, as a judge of a major literary prize. I have a real sense of eagerness, as we launch a competition to find Australia’s next great writer.”
The prize builds on the legacy of the Vogel’s Award, previously sponsored by The Australian, Allen & Unwin, and Vogel’s. One of Australia’s oldest literary prizes, The Vogel began in 1980, when entrepreneur, Niels Stevns, approached The Australian to start a literary prize.
The judges of the Vogel’s Award, which was for young writers, had large success: the prize was won by a young Tim Winton, who would go on to win four Miles Franklin Awards; Orange Prize winner, Kate Grenville; and Andrew McGahan, who won it for Praise, which later became an award-winning film.
The prize is open to all Australian writers, regardless of age and will be open for entry in May.