De Zilva wins 2019 Deakin University Nonfiction Prize

Olivia De Zilva has won the 2019 Deakin University Nonfiction Prize for ‘Let’s Eat 食飯!’.

De Zilva described ‘Let’s Eat 食飯!’ as ‘an ode to my wonderful family’. ‘Let’s Eat basically details our real life—there’s nothing unfiltered there—it’s just us, the way we lived, spoke and interacted with each other,’ said De Silva. ‘It’s autobiographical to our experiences as migrants in Adelaide and how we adapted to the suburban mundanity of a small town as opposed to the skyscrapers and politics of Hong Kong. It’s about the liminality between two homes and two cultures, which I think is pertinent given the events occurring in Hong Kong right now.’

De Zilva receives $3000 and an editorial mentorship with Black Inc. managing editor Julia Carlomagno. Kat Capel was highly commended for ‘work & love’. The shortlisted writers receive a two-day masterclass with writers Ruby Hamad and Bridget Caldwell, detailed feedback from the judging panel, and a book pack.

As previously reported by Books+Publishing, Express Media partnered with Deakin University to present the 2019 Nonfiction Prize for Young Writers, after the prize began as a joint venture between Scribe and Express Media in 2013.

Category: Awards Local news