WA Premier’s Book Award Shortlist

In an announcement made by the State Librarian Margaret Allen this morning six Fremantle Press books were shortlisted for a 2014 WA Premier’s Book Award.

Koombana Days by Annie Boyd, Light Horse Boy by Dianne Wolfer and Brian Simmonds, My Superhero by Chris Owen and Moira Court, Salt Story by Sarah Drummond, The Life and Loves of Lena Gaunt by Tracy Farr and Unearthed by Tracy Ryan are shortlisted alongside a national field for a share in the $130,000 worth of prize money.

Fremantle Press CEO Jane Fraser said it was wonderful to help put Western Australian authors on the road to success by publishing their books.

‘The shortlist is a strong mix of established authors like Dianne Wolfer and Tracy Ryan, who have both made the list in the past, and debut authors Annie Boyd, Chris Owen, Sarah Drummond and Tracy Farr,’ said Fraser.

‘The WA Premier’s Book Awards is a nice way to cap off a year that has included recognition in the Children’s Book Council of Australia Book Awards, the Miles Franklin Literary Award and many others,’ said Fraser.

A media statement published on the State Library of Western Australia’s website said 552 books were entered into the awards over nine categories with strong entries from local publishing houses Magabala Books, UWA Publishing and Fremantle Press.

’From emerging writer Sally-Ann Jones’s book Stella’s Sea set at Cottesloe beach, David Whish-Wilson’s book Perth describing life by the Swan River and Sarah Drummond’s Salt Story about life as a fisherwoman in Western Australia, the Western Australian Premier’s Book Awards continue to attract the finest literary works created in Australia today,’ Margaret Allen said.

More information about the WA Premier’s Book Awards is available at pba.slwa.wa.gov.au

Koombana Days, Light Horse Boy, My Superhero, Salt Story, The Life and Loves of Lena Gaunt and Unearthed are available in all good bookstores and online.