Media Information
Monday 20 August 2012
62 shining literary lights announced for Queensland Literary Awards Shortlist
Australia’s best, Queensland’s brightest lead the charge
From more than 600 entries, a roll call of 62 of Australia’s best writers, starring Queensland’s brightest shining literary lights, has been announced in the official Shortlist for the 2012 Queensland Literary Awards.
Announced today at Avid Reader in West End by Queensland Literary Awards Inc. Chair, Dr Stuart Glover, the Shortlist of 62 finalists over 14 categories is testament to the strength of the awards.
The Queensland Literary Awards (QLA) 2012 recognise established and emerging writers across 14 original categories. The QLA were established on the 4th April 2012, following Queensland Premier Campbell Newman’s announcement that his Government would no longer be supporting the Queensland Premier’s Literary Awards.
Dr Glover said the standard of entry had been overwhelming with leading names like Peter Carey, Anna Funder, Kate Grenville and Frank Moorhouse, Jane Gleeson-White, William McInnes and Brisbane’s Patrick Holland all
shortlisted in different categories.
“In the Young Adult Book category we have five shortlisted, however we could easily have shortlisted 15 given the calibre of entries. It was remarkable. Similarly, the Short Story category attracted one of the strongest fields in years, and this will be hotly contested - again testament to the unwavering appeal of the written word,” he said.
“In the Television Script Award category, all five shortlisted have been critically acclaimed already; while the History Book Award sees the multi-nominated “Seduced by Logic” lead the charge. We are thrilled with the entries, the quality of content and the support from Australia’s writers, this is an exciting time as we get to the pointy end of the awards.”
"These awards recognise the value of literature to the Queensland community. The telling and reading of local and national stories is central to our cultural life and to a healthy democracy. These awards support new Queensland writers, new indigenous writers, and they ensure that Queensland is part of the national conversation about Australian values and the Australian experience.”
“The Queensland Literary Awards have happened this year because businesses, universities, cultural organisations and hundreds of individuals have got behind them. We don’t know what will happen in 2013, but we hope we will continue to receive support from all levels of the community. We would welcome the return of government support, as government is one of many stakeholders in this state's literary life, but regardless, the community has spoken about the importance of writing and literature. Queensland literary life has transformed itself in the 25 years since Expo, but there is still more work to be done.
An additional category this year is the inaugural The Courier-Mail People’s Choice Queensland Book of the Year, enabling the community to engage with the Literary Awards by voting for their favourite book from six selected by QLA judges. The shortlist includes The Ottoman Motel by Christopher Currie, Closer to Stone by Simon Cleary, The Fix by Nick Earls, The Promise of Iceland by Kari Gislason, Riding the Trains in Japan by Patrick Holland, and Worse Things Happen at Sea by William McInnes and Sarah Watt.
Winners of the 2012 Queensland Literary Awards will be announced at an event on 4 September, 2012.
Monday 20 August 2012
62 shining literary lights announced for Queensland Literary Awards Shortlist
Australia’s best, Queensland’s brightest lead the charge
From more than 600 entries, a roll call of 62 of Australia’s best writers, starring Queensland’s brightest shining literary lights, has been announced in the official Shortlist for the 2012 Queensland Literary Awards.
Announced today at Avid Reader in West End by Queensland Literary Awards Inc. Chair, Dr Stuart Glover, the Shortlist of 62 finalists over 14 categories is testament to the strength of the awards.
The Queensland Literary Awards (QLA) 2012 recognise established and emerging writers across 14 original categories. The QLA were established on the 4th April 2012, following Queensland Premier Campbell Newman’s announcement that his Government would no longer be supporting the Queensland Premier’s Literary Awards.
Dr Glover said the standard of entry had been overwhelming with leading names like Peter Carey, Anna Funder, Kate Grenville and Frank Moorhouse, Jane Gleeson-White, William McInnes and Brisbane’s Patrick Holland all
shortlisted in different categories.
“In the Young Adult Book category we have five shortlisted, however we could easily have shortlisted 15 given the calibre of entries. It was remarkable. Similarly, the Short Story category attracted one of the strongest fields in years, and this will be hotly contested - again testament to the unwavering appeal of the written word,” he said.
“In the Television Script Award category, all five shortlisted have been critically acclaimed already; while the History Book Award sees the multi-nominated “Seduced by Logic” lead the charge. We are thrilled with the entries, the quality of content and the support from Australia’s writers, this is an exciting time as we get to the pointy end of the awards.”
"These awards recognise the value of literature to the Queensland community. The telling and reading of local and national stories is central to our cultural life and to a healthy democracy. These awards support new Queensland writers, new indigenous writers, and they ensure that Queensland is part of the national conversation about Australian values and the Australian experience.”
“The Queensland Literary Awards have happened this year because businesses, universities, cultural organisations and hundreds of individuals have got behind them. We don’t know what will happen in 2013, but we hope we will continue to receive support from all levels of the community. We would welcome the return of government support, as government is one of many stakeholders in this state's literary life, but regardless, the community has spoken about the importance of writing and literature. Queensland literary life has transformed itself in the 25 years since Expo, but there is still more work to be done.
An additional category this year is the inaugural The Courier-Mail People’s Choice Queensland Book of the Year, enabling the community to engage with the Literary Awards by voting for their favourite book from six selected by QLA judges. The shortlist includes The Ottoman Motel by Christopher Currie, Closer to Stone by Simon Cleary, The Fix by Nick Earls, The Promise of Iceland by Kari Gislason, Riding the Trains in Japan by Patrick Holland, and Worse Things Happen at Sea by William McInnes and Sarah Watt.
Winners of the 2012 Queensland Literary Awards will be announced at an event on 4 September, 2012.
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