- Premier's Books Awards showcase the best in Western
Australian writing
- Western
Australian Writer's Fellowship winner, Tracy Ryan
- Book of
the Year winner, The Red Witch: A Biography of Katharine Susannah
Prichard by Nathan Hobby (Melbourne University Publishing)
- Emerging
Writer winner, Banjawarn by Josh Kemp (UWA Publishing)
- Children's
Book of the Year winner, Wild Australian Life, written by
Leonard Cronin and illustrated by Chris Nixon (Allen & Unwin)
- Daisy
Utemorrah Award for Unpublished Indigenous Junior and Young Adult Fiction winner, Uncle
Xbox (Book 2) - Getting Dusty by Jared Thomas
The 2023 Western Australian Premier's Book
Awards winners have been announced at an award ceremony at the State Library of
Western Australia.
The night's major winner was Tracy Ryan, who
won the WA Writer's Fellowship ($60,000). Ryan is a well-respected novelist and
poet who has worked as a teacher, journalist and bookseller.
The highly anticipated Premier's Prize for Book of the Year ($15,000),
sponsored by Writing WA, was won by The Red Witch: A Biography of Katharine Susannah Prichard by
Nathan Hobby. The judges described the book as an impeccably researched and
definitive account of one of WA's greatest writers.
An
urban legend, a swamp monster, an apocalyptic thriller and an owl who loves stars
were all nominated for the Premier's Prize for Children's Book of the Year
($15,000). Wild Australia Life, written by best-selling author and
biologist Leonard Cronin and illustrated by Chris Nixon won with an exquisite
exploration of Australian animals that belongs on every family's bookshelf.
Gothic fiction novel Banjawarn by Josh Kemp, a white
knuckle, psychedelic road trip through the Eastern Goldfields, won the
Premier's Prize for an Emerging Writer ($15,000).
The Daisy Utemorrah Award for Unpublished Indigenous Junior and
Young Adult Fiction ($15,000 and a publishing contract) was awarded to Uncle
Xbox (Book 2) - Getting Dusty by Nukunu man Jared Thomas. The manuscript is
a middle-grade story that follows Dusty as he learns valuable lessons on
respecting the power of nature, knowing your limits and when to walk away.
The Daisy Utemorrah Award is administered and funded by Broome-based
Indigenous publisher Magabala Books with support from the Department of Local
Government, Sport and Cultural Industries and was open to Indigenous writers
from across Australia.
For more information on
the winners, the shortlists and the judging panel, visit: slwa.wa.gov.au
Comments attributed to Culture and the Arts
Minister David Templeman:
"It's a thrill to
see Western Australian writers and illustrators honoured at the 2023 WA
Premier's Book Awards. What a fantastic night of celebrating literature.
"It was an honour and pleasure to present
the WA Premier's Book Awards to an extraordinary group of talented, passionate,
hardworking people. I encourage everyone to delve into these engaging,
captivating stories and to support Western Australian writers.
"The State Library of Western Australia
is a haven of our stories, knowledge and history. The library collects,
preserves and shares our Western Australian stories making it the perfect home for
the Premier's Book Awards."
