Daisy Utemorrah Award 2026 shortlist announced

Magabala Books and the Western Australian Premier’s Book Awards have announced the shortlist for the 2026 Daisy Utemorrah Award.

The shortlisted works are:

• “Barefoot Running”, “a literary First Nations mystery and coming of age novel”, by Amanda Lott, a writer of Bigambul and European heritage
• “Off by a Mark”, “a contemporary, warm, witty and relatable coming-of-age romance about first love, first heartbreak and the unexpected people who change our lives”, by Junaidah Mamid, a writer of proud Yawuru and Bardi descent
• “Saltwater, City Lights”, “a YA work of literary fiction that reflects on the stories we inherit, the lies we tell ourselves and the journey to healing when truths are shared”, by Elise Thornthwaite, a Gamilaraay writer and mum.

“The 3 shortlisted manuscripts were selected from an impressive pool of entries from First Nations authors at varying stages of their writing careers,” said Magabala Books.

The Daisy Utemorrah Award is for unpublished junior and young adult writing and “seeks to grow Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representation in the young adult literary landscape”. It honours the late Daisy Utemorrah, an Elder from the Wunambal people of the far north Kimberley’s Mitchell Platteau area, founding Elder of Magabala Books, and an award-winning poet, author, community leader and educator.

Previous winners of the Daisy Utemorrah Award include Kirli Saunders with Bindi, Mariah Sweetman with Robert Runs, Carl Merrison and Hakea Hustler with Dirran, Jared Thomas with Getting Dusty, and Marly Wells and Linda Wells with Desert Tracks.

The winner of the Daisy Utemorrah Award will be announced in September at the Western Australian Premier’s Book Awards at the State Library of Western Australia and online. The winner will receive $15,000 of prize money and a publishing contract with Magabala Books.

Shortlisted works in other categories of the Western Australian Premier’s Literary Awards were announced earlier this month.

More information about the authors shortlisted for the Daisy Utemorrah Award, their works and judges comments, is available on the Magabala Books website.

Category: Local news