Newcastle Short Story Award 2025 shortlist announced
The Hunter Writers’ Centre has announced the shortlist for this year’s Newcastle Short Story Award.
Shortlisted stories are:
- “Sun, Do Not Die” by ALB
- “Solastalgia” by Liz Allan
- “Backburn” by Claire Aman
- “Love and Limerence” by LJ Bruce
- “Becca Enlightened” by Jarad Bruinstroop
- “Human Error” by Caileen Cachia
- “The Subconscious Geometry of Heatwaves” by Caileen Cachia
- “Unmolested” by Memphis Carter
- “Tilt and Load” by Vicky Daddo
- “Whale of a Time” by Jay Devans
- “The Bowling Ladies” by Marlish Glorie
- “Batam” by Keith Go Johnson
- “Walking Through Walls” by Jodie Haid
- “Migration” by Cassie Hamer
- “The Cow Pen” by Maggie Wairimu Hari
- “The Butterfly Effect” by Jacqueline Hodder
- “Women Yearn When Left Alone” by Sharmila Jayasinghe
- “Dark Water, Shallow Sea” by Eleanor Limprecht
- “Know Your Warnings” by Lauren McGrow
- “Teaching Darren How to Wish” by Jay McKenzie
- “Kagami-no-ma” by Jay McKenzie
- “The Twice-Flowering Roses of Paestum” by Bron Morrison
- “The Taste of Summer” by Amanda Ong
- “Notes from a Podcast Finale” by Damian Perry
- “Seawall” by Alex Philp
- “Whole Again” by Alison Richards
- “Thomas” by Anna Searls
- “Paddling Blind” by Rob Stewart
- “Music Lessons” by Sanchana Venkatesh
- “Braving the Jump” by Karen Whitelaw.
Now in its 13th year, the award was judged this year by authors Catherine McNamara and Mirandi Riwoe, alongside associate judge Claudine Tinellis.
Hunter Writers’ Centre director Katherine McLean said, “Since 2012, the Newcastle Short Story Award has been attracted Australia’s brightest storytelling talent, offering emerging and established writers the chance to showcase their work. We are proud to continue this tradition and celebrate the diversity, skill and craft in this year’s entries.”
The judging panel said, “Judging the [award] has been a real treat, and we have come up with a shortlist that is contemporary and insightful, examining the many facets of our lives through this challenging form. From Coffs Harbour to Singapore, from Kenya to a dystopian Hunter Valley, we joined characters who faced climate extremity, who searched for hope beyond family structures, somehow, within our damaged world.”
The prize pool includes a first prize of $3000, alongside various levels of awards recognising excellence in short story form. All shortlisted stories will be published in the award’s annual anthology, which will be launched in Newcastle on Saturday 6 December at the event announcing the winners.
Last year’s first and second prize went to Omar Musa, with the third prize going to Lisa Lang.
Photo credit: Daily Salt Photography.
Category: Awards Local news
