WA book longlisted for world’s most valuable annual prize
Fremantle Press author Sarah Drummond’s debut novel, The Sound, is in the running to win the International Dublin Literary Award, worth 100,000 euros. She joins nine Australian authors and 137 international authors on the prize’s longlist.
The Walpole resident said having The Sound on the list gave her a glow that she could carry around with her and pull out to look at from time to time.
‘Being nominated and then longlisted for this prize has been so exciting! It reminds me that literature from our south coast is going from strength to strength, with a nurturing and dynamic group of creatives who produce some amazing work. How could we not, with such an evocative landscape and rich histories?’ said Drummond.
‘I feel honoured and thankful that the State Library of Western Australia has nominated my book. It shows that they consider our stories and publishers as world-class,’ said Drummond.
State libraries from around the world can nominate up to three novels from the state in which they were published in the previous year. The selection criteria are based on literary merit.
The Sound was nominated by the State Library of Western Australia, with the librarian commenting: ‘This is an exquisitely beautifully written novel. I could smell the ocean, and feel the sea air, whilst being transported to a historical period I knew nothing about. A rare author who is able to bring historical events and people vibrantly alive. Not since Tim Winton’s Cloudstreet have I so loved a fiction book.’
The Sound is a work of historical fiction, based on the true story of two sealing crews who sailed with Aboriginal women and children from Bass Strait to Western Australia in 1825 on the schooners Hunter and Governor Brisbane.
The prize for the International Dublin Literary Award is 100,000 euros, making it the world’s most valuable annual literary prize for a single work of fiction in English. For more information about the award visit dublinliteraryaward.ie. The shortlist will be announced in April and the winner will be announced in June.
The Sound is available in all good bookstores and online.
Media enquiries: Claire Miller, Fremantle Press, cmiller@fremantlepress.com, +61 (0)419 837 841.
