Stager, Godwin to be inducted into ABIA Hall of Fame; business, publisher shortlists announced

Bookseller Fiona Stager and children’s author and publisher Jane Godwin will be inducted into the Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIA) Hall of Fame at the 2024 ABIAs ceremony on 9 May, the Australian Publishers Association (APA) has announced.

Lloyd O’Neil Award

The Lloyd O’Neil Hall of Fame Award is presented to Fiona Stager for her ‘dedication to fostering a vibrant literary community in Brisbane’. ABIA judges said: ‘Through bookstores Avid Reader and Where the Wild Things Are, she has not only provided a platform for local and emerging writers but also cultivated a space where readers can explore a diverse range of literature, from classics to contemporary works. Her involvement in prestigious literary awards such as the Vogel Award, Stella Prize and the Queensland Literary Awards, along with her recognition by the Johnno Award and life membership in the Australian Booksellers Association highlights her immense contributions to the Australian literary scene. The ABIA’s acknowledgment of her impact further solidifies her status as a champion of Australian literature, and her efforts continue to shape and enrich the cultural landscape of the country.’

On receiving the award, Stager said: ‘I was so surprised and overwhelmed when I was told I was this year’s recipient of the Lloyd O’Neil Award I cried! To be honoured by the industry means so much to me. It’s an industry that I have spent most of my working life in and to be recognised and to have my name recorded alongside many of my heroes is truly an honour. The previous recipients are people who have inspired me with their writing, or their publishing careers or their bookselling acumen. I love this industry and to be awarded the Lloyd O’Neil Award means the world to me.’

Pixie O’Harris Award

This year’s Pixie O’Harris Hall of Fame Award is presented to Godwin, whose ‘impact on Australian children’s literature is immense and multifaceted. Her prolific output of over 40 books demonstrates her versatility and dedication to the craft. She is a tireless advocate for Australian children’s literature, both as a supporter and promoter of fellow authors and illustrators. Her commitment to nurturing talent extends to her work as a teacher and mentor, where she has shared her expertise through courses and workshops across Australia and internationally. Her involvement with organisations including the Indigenous Literacy Foundation showcases her dedication to fostering literacy and creativity in diverse communities, including remote Aboriginal communities and children in hospitals.’

ABIA judges said that Godwin’s ‘genuine warmth and generosity has left a lasting impression, whether within the industry or among the young readers who have been inspired by her work’, adding that ‘her efforts have not only enriched the landscape of Australian children’s literature but touched the lives of countless individuals, fostering a love of reading and storytelling that will endure for generations to come’.

On receiving the award, Godwin said: ‘I am surprised, honoured and grateful to receive the 2024 Pixie O’Harris Award. My life in the world of children’s books springs from a passion I have held since childhood and feels inseparable from my personality. I am so touched to be recognised by the industry–thank you.’

ABIA 2024 Business Awards shortlist

The shortlists for the ABIA business awards have also been announced.

The shortlists are:

Commissioning Editor Award

The Commissioning Editor Award recognises the ‘importance of an editor or publisher who provides excellence in the support of their authors, and the acquisition and commission of new titles that enriches the Australian publishing landscape and supports the needs of the publishing house’.

The shortlisted professionals are:

• Kristen Abbott (Thames & Hudson Australia)
• Anthea Bariamis (Simon & Schuster Australia)
• Vanessa Radnidge (Hachette Australia)
• Rebecca Saunders (Hachette Australia)
• Catherine Milne (HarperCollins Publishers)
• Madonna Duffy (University of Queensland Press)

Marketing Strategy Award

The Marketing Strategy Award recognises the ‘outstanding contributions of marketing professionals in showcasing their talent and individual product lines and lists with imaginative, innovative and effective campaigns that have captured the imagination of Australian readers’.

The shortlist titles are:

• Lola In the Mirror (Trent Dalton, Fourth Estate)
• Fourth Wing and Iron Flame (Rebecca Yarros, Piatkus)
• The Bookbinder of Jericho (Pip Williams, Affirm)
• Wifedom (Anna Funder, Hamish Hamilton)
• The Last Devil to Die (Richard Osman, Viking).
• Everyone on This Train is a Suspect (Benjamin Stevenson, Michael Joseph)

Bookshop of the Year

The Bookshop of the Year ‘honours the bricks-and-mortar store that epitomises excellence and contributes to the industry’s overall success throughout the year’.

Shortlisted bookshops are:

• Books Kinokuniya Sydney (NSW)
• Matilda Bookshop (SA)
• Big W Warringah Mall (NSW)
• Potts Point Bookshop (NSW)
• Avenue Bookstore Elsternwick (Vic)
• Fullers Bookshop (Tas)

Publishers

Small and large publishers are honoured ‘for their expertise, hard work, and accomplishments in making books come to life’.

The shortlisted publishers are:

Small Publisher of the Year

• University of Queensland Press
• Pantera Press
• Magabala Books
• Monash University Publishing
• Fremantle Press
• Rockpool Publishing

Publisher of the Year

• Simon & Schuster Australia
• Affirm Press
• Hachette Australia
• HarperCollins Publishers
• Hardie Grant Publishing
• Penguin Random House Australia.

The winners of the ABIAs, including the winners of the book awards, will be announced at an in-person event at Zinc Fed Square in Melbourne on Thursday, 9 May. For more information or to buy tickets, see the ABIA website.

Category: Awards Local news