Inaugural Fearless Prize goes to Perkins for “New Growth”
Bakers Lane Books has awarded its inaugural Fearless Prize to journalist Miki Perkins for her debut novel, New Growth.
Perkins receives a $10,000 advance and publication of the novel.
The announcement described New Growth as an unconventional queer coming-of-age story of a woman in her 60s whose life has been defined by caring for others. Jude assumes that much in life – such as joy or desire – is behind her. But when she returns to the country town where she grew up, she discovers she was wrong.
“The Fearless Prize exists to amplify, in a small but genuine way, under-represented voices, particularly women and gender diverse people,” said the publisher.
“The winner and shortlist were of an exceptionally high standard, representing the unpublished talent that exists in this country.”
New Growth was selected by judges Emily Bitto and Ginny Grant from a shortlist that included 8 other manuscripts:
- “Detritus” (Jillian Britton)
- “The Fright of Real Feathers” (Shashini Gamage)
- “Lung” (Medea Bhanthumnavin)
- “The Proveniste” (Lisa Cortez)
- “Swimming Backwards” (Helen Jones)
- “What Brings You Here” (Siobhan Kavanagh)
- “Why We Cry” (Deborah Wardle)
- “Wreck” (Anne Myers).
Miki Perkins is environment and energy editor with the Conversation. She spent almost 2 decades at the Age/Sydney Morning Herald and has also written for the Guardian, the ABC and Crikey.
Bakers Lane announced the Fearless Prize at the same time as the independent publisher’s launch in the middle of last year. The prize is set to be awarded annually to a debut Australian writer.
“In a market where debut authors are finding it harder than ever to break through, we’re here to make space,” said Grant – who is also the press’s founder – at the time. “The Fearless Prize is about rewriting the rules of who gets published, who gets seen, and whose stories get told.”
The publisher plans to publish New Growth under the Fearless Press imprint in early 2027.
Category: Awards Local news
