Prime Cut shortlisted for 2011 Ned Kelly Award

Prime Cut by crime writer Alan Carter has been shortlisted for Best First Fiction in the 2011 Ned Kelly Awards.

Carter is one of two Western Australians and three crime writers nationwide to make it to the shortlist.

Carter, who will appear at the Melbourne Writers Festival in August, said the competition was very strong and it was great to be in such distinguished company.

‘I’ve read both the other books – P.M. Newton’s and David Whish-Wilson’s – and enjoyed them immensely,’ said Carter.

‘It’s very exciting to be shortlisted and a great honour,” he said.

Previous winners of the award include: Chris Gadd, Chris Womersley, Adrian Hyland, Wendy James and Malcolm Knox.

The Ned Kelly Awards for 2011 will be hosted by Jane Clifton on 31 August at Toff in Town, 252 Swanston Street, Melbourne. The night will feature the inaugural Ned Kelly Lecture presented by Andrew Rule, award winning journalist and author, whose works include the renowned ‘Underbelly’ series and music by Acts of Violence, featuring Stephen Cummings, Robert Goodge and Bill McDonald.

Prime Cut is published by Fremantle Press and available in all good bookstores.