Finalists for Australia’s Richest Author Fellowship Announced

November 21, 2016

The Copyright Agency’s annual $80,000 Author Fellowship, honouring the work of Australia’s best mid-to-late career authors has today announced its shortlist. The fellowship, which has doubled in value from $40,000 in its inaugural year, is now the flagship endowment for mid-to-late career authors providing valuable financing so they can develop their next work.

“The calibre of entries submitted to the Copyright Agency’s Author Fellowship reflects the extraordinary talent of Australian writers,” said Copyright Agency CEO Adam Suckling.“The assessors for the fellowship considered applications from across the country and across genres including poetry, YA fiction, fantasy, real crime, adult fiction and autobiography.

“After a lengthy deliberation, the three finalists consisted of a biography, a memoir and a novel from three of the nation’s best writers at the top of their literary powers. The finalists reflect the diversity of entries and the depth of the competition,” Mr Suckling said.

The shortlisted authors for the 2016 Author Fellowship are:

  • Georgia Blain:  For a memoir that is a lament at the loss of language and a love song to words and language.
  • Jacqueline Kent:  For a biography of Ellen Kelly’s last 40 years of life after Ned’s death.
  • Melissa Lucashenko: For a contemporary fiction considering contemporary Aboriginal life.

The Author Fellowship is open annually. To apply, authors must have at least five substantial published works (two can be self-published) and a publishing contract in place. For more information on the Copyright Agency Author please view the fellowship guidelines.

The winner of the fellowship will be announced at 6.30pm on Wednesday 23 November at the ArtHouse Hotel, Sydney.

For interview requests please contact:

Jane Morey
morey media
p: 02 9929 9922
e:jane@moreymedia.com.au