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Guineay, Walpert win 2020 Viva La Novella competition

Seizure has announced the winners of the 2020 Viva la Novella competition.

Dark Wave by Adelaide writer Lana Guineay and Late Sonata by Auckland writer Bryan Walpert were chosen from the shortlist of five as the winning entries. Both novellas have been published by Seizure.

Seizure said of Guineay’s Dark Wave: ‘Set in the glamorous Whitsundays, Dark Wave opens as Paloma receives an anonymous letter alleging blackmail and money laundering. Paloma calls up her ex, professional surfer turned PI, to do some digging. What he uncovers is much more than fraud in this visceral and moody novella.’

Walpert’s novella Late Sonata is inspired by the structure of a piece by Beethoven and follows musicologist Talia and her novelist husband as they deal with the effects of dementia, revelations of infidelity and the death of their concert pianist son. ‘This is a formally sophisticated and emotionally engaging novella,’ said Seizure.

NSW writers Carly Cappielli and Joshua Mostafa won last year’s Viva la Novella competition, and Mostafa’s Offshore has since been optioned by filmmaker Partho Sen-Gupta.

To learn more about the 2020 winners and shortlist, visit Seizure’s website.

 

Category: Awards Local news