Sharman wins 2025 Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize

Victorian writer Tara Sharman has won the 2025 Australian Book Review (ABR) Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize ($6000) for ‘Shelling’. At 22, Sharman is the youngest recipient in the prize’s history.

Sharman was longlisted alongside ten other writers, and shortlisted next to second-place winner ($4000) Tracey Slaughter (Aotearoa New Zealand) for ‘Sediment’ and Rachael Wenona Guy (Victoria) who placed third ($2500) for ‘Limerence’.

‘Shelling’ follows a woman seeking to come to terms with the death of her father, driving over the course of a day and night with his abducted body, said the organisation. The judging panel, which included Julie Janson, John Kinsella and Maria Takolander, called it a ‘stunningly written, savagely honest’ story on grief.

Sharman grew up in Tasmania/Lutrawita. She was placed equal first in the Young Tasmanian Writers contest in 2020 and now studies in Melbourne/Naarm.

She said, ‘It is with great honour that I walk in the footsteps of the women writers who forged the way for a place in literature.’

The three shortlisted stories will appear in the August issue of ABR, and the stories have also been recorded for the ABR’s podcast.

The 2024 prize was awarded to New York–based writer Jill Van Epps for her story ‘Pornwald’.

More information about the prize is available on the ABR website.

Category: Awards Local news