The Western Australian Premier’s Book Awards

Calling all writers and publishers!

The Western Australian Premier’s Book Awards is now open for entries. The awards aim to support, develop and recognise excellence in writing. 

These awards are for books published between 1 January 2019 and 31 December 2019. This year self-published books are eligible to enter provided they have an ISBN and printed in book form. 

The new look is from an original illustration, “Constellation” by ©Moira Court, from the enchanting children’s book My Superhero written by Chris Owen, published by Fremantle Press (2014). The book was shortlisted in 2014 for Premier’s Book Awards –  Best Children’s Book – and  we are lucky enough to have the original illustrations in the State Library Collection(b3302613_9). You can see the entire collection of paintings from the book here.

The Numbat or Banded Anteater (Myrmecobius fasciatus) was proclaimed the animal emblem of Western Australia on 25 July 1973. Having said all of this – the real reason we went for this particular numbat is that he is just so cute.

Entries close at 5pm (WST) on 10 February 2020.

Categories and Prizes

The Western Australian Writer’s Fellowship ($60,000)
The Fellowship is designed to assist a Western Australian writer, of any style or genre, to develop their writing practice and give them the time to create new work.

The Premier’s Prize for Writing for Children ($15,000)
For a work of prose, poetry or narrative nonfiction written for children (0 to 12 years of age), in any genre, by an author or authors residing in Western Australia.

The Premier’s Prize for an Emerging Writer ($15,000)
For the first published work of prose, poetry or narrative nonfiction, in any genre, by an author or authors residing in Western Australia.

The Daisy Utemorrah Award for Unpublished Indigenous Junior and YA Fiction ($15,000 and a publishing contract with Magabala Books)
For a new unpublished manuscript for a work of junior and young adult fiction, including graphic novels, by an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander writer – Australia wide.

The Daisy Utemorrah Award is administered by Magabala Books please consult their website for details. Supported by the State Government of Western Australia and the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund, the winner will receive a cash prize of $15,000 and their manuscript will be published by Magabala Books, under the guidance of an Indigenous editor.

Judges

Would you like to a become a judge? Expressions of Interest are being sort for Judges.

More details are available on the website.