Text Prize 2013 shortlist announced

15 May 2013 Books+Publishing

The shortlist for the 2013 Text Prize for Young Adult and Children’s Writing has been announced.

The shortlisted authors and their manuscripts are:

Meg Caddy for Waer, a ‘fantasy novel set in an imagined land of waerwolves, thieves and magic’
Jo Hegerty for Lost Vegas, a ‘funny, heart-warming story for younger readers about a bullied boy and his second-hand, far-from-ideal dog’
Jessica Miller for Elizabeth and Zenobia, a ‘fantastically imagined story about all the different ways we can be haunted’ for children aged eight to 12
Diana Sweeney for Flood Damage, a ‘timely novel for older readers … [about] a young woman’s struggle to regain control of her life after a devastating flood’.

The winner of this year’s prize will be announced in Melbourne on 29 May.

Text received a record 350 entries for this year’s prize. ‘With every year that goes by we have seen more entries for the Text Prize,’ said Text publisher Michael Heyward in a statement. The range and diversity of the entries continue to grow.’

The Text Prize for an unpublished manuscript by an Australian or New Zealand writer is now in its sixth year. The winner receives a publishing contract with Text and a $10,000 advance against royalties. Last year’s winner, Zac and Mia by A J Betts, will be published in August.

Category: Local news