2025 Richell Prize for Emerging Writers shortlist
Hachette Australia and the Emerging Writers’ Festival (EWF) have announced the shortlist for the 2025 Richell Prize for Emerging Writers.
Chosen from the longlist announced last month, the 5 shortlisted writers are:
- Arden Baker for “Three Flames Ate the Sun”
- Jake Dean for “For Reasons I Can’t Discern”
- Yang Liu for “White Ash, Black Ash”
- Monique Marani for “The Sweeter”
- Georgia White for “Abyss”.
The judges this year included Dymocks head of book buying Kate Mayor, bookseller Sally Tabner, Indigenous Literacy Foundation editor Nea Close-Brown, Hachette head of narrative nonfiction and literary Vanessa Radnidge and author Hannah Richell.
Of the shortlist, the judges said, “It is always interesting to hear the different views aired as each work is discussed and it is never an easy task to settle on a shortlist. However, these five shortlisted writers show the quality and depth of contemporary Australian writing and help honour the legacy of Matt Richell, a man who was dedicated to promoting and encouraging emerging writers.”
Entrants are judged on three chapters of their work, a synopsis and details about how their writing career would benefit from winning. The winner will receive $10,000 and a 12-month mentorship with a Hachette publisher.
The winner is set to be announced on 5 November 2025.
More information about the award is available on Hachette’s website.
Category: Awards Local news
