Which Fremantle Press authors are on the shortlist for this year’s WA Premier’s Book Awards?
Fremantle Press authors Kelly Canby, Amanda Curtin and Madelaine Dickie have all been shortlisted in their respective categories for one of the Western Australian Premier’s Book Awards 2018.
Kelly Canby’s picture book The Hole Story has made the Writing for Children shortlist, while Amanda Curtin (Kathleen O’Connor of Paris) and Madelaine Dickie (Red Can Origami and Troppo) are both on the shortlist for the Fellowship award.
Kelly said, ‘I am so incredibly thrilled to see The Hole Story on the WA Premier’s Book Awards shortlist. It sits there with four other fine Australian books for children created by some very talented writers and illustrators, and I feel truly honoured.’
Amanda Curtin, who wrote the narrative non-fiction book Kathleen O’Connor of Paris, said of the news, ‘What an honour it is to be shortlisted for this inaugural award. Western Australia has some of the finest writers in the country, and I’m thrilled and proud to be on a list with A.J. [Betts], Madelaine [Dickie], Kylie [Howarth] and Craig [Silvey].’
Madelaine Dickie’s debut novel, Troppo, won the City of Fremantle T.A.G. Hungerford Award in 2014, and her second novel, Red Can Origami, will be published by Fremantle Press in December 2019. She said, ‘There are so many powerful stories coming out of WA – so much good writing and so many talented writers – that I really didn’t expect to make the shortlist. It came as a complete and happy surprise!
‘To be listed alongside Amanda is a privilege and a pleasure. The weeks to come will be nerve-wracking, as this Fellowship is potentially life-changing; it could be the match to light up a couple of explosive stories I’ve got on the go … But regardless of the outcome, it’s incredible to be shortlisted.’
Craig Silvey and A.J. Betts, who have also previously been published by Fremantle Press, are also on the shortlist for the Fellowship Award.
The winner will be announced on Friday 26 July as part of the Disrupted Festival of Ideas at the State Library of Western Australia.
The Hole Story by Kelly Canby, Kathleen O’Connor of Paris by Amanda Curtin and Troppo by Madelaine Dickie are available online at www.fremantlepress.com.au and at all good bookstores.
