The shortlist for the 2008 Victorian Premier's Literary Awards was announced on Friday, 8 August, by Arts Minister Lynne Kosky at the State Library of Victoria.
The 2008 Awards are in the categories of fiction, nonfiction, young adult fiction, an unpublished manuscript by an emerging Victorian writer, poetry, drama, essay, history, Indigenous writing, journalism, music theatre, and writing about Italians in Australia. The winning writers will share a total prize pool of $210,000.

‘For 24 years the Victorian Premier's Literary Awards have celebrated and promoted excellence in Australia writing. They play an important role not just in recognising Australian writers and their contribution to our culture, but also fostering and uncovering new talent,' said Kosky.

In the 24th year of the Awards, there was a record number of entries in the prize for a first book of history and the prize for Indigenous writing categories.
For the first time a $15,000 Prize for Best Music Theatre Script is offered this year, rewarding excellence in Australian musical theatre, and reflecting the strength of the form in Victoria.

The shortlisted titles are:

The Vance Palmer Prize for Fiction ($30,000):

• Diary of a Bad Year, J M Coetzee, Text
• The Lost Dog, Michelle de Kretser, A&U
• The Spare Room, Helen Garner, Text

The Nettie Palmer Prize for Non-fiction ($30,000):

• Van Diemen's Land, James Boyce, Black Inc.
• Napoleon, Phillip Dwyer, A&U
• Ferocious Summer, Meredith Hooper, A&U
• Detainee 002, Leigh Sales, Melbourne University Publishing
• Muck, Craig Sherborne, Black Inc.

The C J Dennis Prize for Poetry ($15,000):

• Event, Judith Bishop, Salt Publishing
• Press Release, Lisa Gorton, Giramondo Publishing
• As We Draw Ourselves, Barry Hill, Five Island Press

The Prize for Young Adult Fiction ($15,000):

• Solo, Alyssa Brugman, A&U
• Pool, Justin D'Ath, Ford Street Publishing
• Tomorrow All Will Be Beautiful, Brigid Lowry, A&U

The Prize for a First Book of History ($15,000):

• Van Diemen's Land, James Boyce, Black Inc.
• The Lamb Enters the Dreaming, Robert Kenny, Scribe
• Pistols! Treason! Murder! Jonathan Walker, Melbourne University Publishing

The Alfred Deakin Prize for an Essay Advancing Public Debate ($15,000):

• 'Out of Control: The Tragedy of Tasmania's Forests', Richard Flanagan, The Monthly
• 'Trapped in the Aboriginal Reality Show', Marcia Langton, Griffith Review
• 'Love and Money', Anne Manne, Quarterly Essay

The Prize for Indigenous Writing ($15,000):

• Anonymous Premonition, Yvette Holt, UQP
• Me, Antman and Fleabag, Gayle Kennedy, UQP
• Fight for Liberty and freedom: The Origins of Australian Aboriginal Activism, John Maynard, Aboriginal Studies Press

The Prize for an Unpublished Manuscript by an Emerging Victorian Writer ($15,000):

• Conditions of Return, Daniel Ducrou
• Going Fishing, Mandy Maroney
• In Search of the Blue Tiger, Robert Power

The Grollo Ruzzene Foundation Prize for Writing about Italians in Australia ($15,000):

• See Naples and Die, Penelope Green, Hachette Livre
• Head Over Heel, Chris Harrison, Murdoch Books
• Antonio's Seed, Merry Watson, Jeremiah's Circle Publishing

‘This is an exciting time for literature in Melbourne and Victoria as we await the outcome of our bid to become recognised internationally by UNESCO as a "City of Literature",' said Kosky.

Work has also commenced on Australia's first ‘Centre for Books, Writing and Ideas', which will become a meeting place for the literary community, and will be located at the State Library of Victoria.

The winners will be announced on 1 September at a celebratory dinner hosted by Jennifer Byrne (First Tuesday Book Club) at Zinc, Federation Square, Melbourne. A keynote address will be delivered by author Alice Pung, and the awards will be presented by the Premier of Victoria John Brumby.

http://www.booksellerandpublisher.com.au/articles/2008/08/09119/

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