PressPress Chapbook Award

It's hot where I am - though I've been getting news of those struggling with the snow elsewhere - and it looks as though the chapbook award is hotting up too. The entries are flowing in. This is good, rather than having a lot of administration at the last minute as people, naturally, fling things over the deadline (end of May 09).

It's exciting but all the entries have to wait so that they can go through the judging process together to allow fair comparison (they're all judged 'blind' ie without identifying the poet on the manuscript itself).





Response to Carolyn Fisher's winning chapbook has been very positive. She's organised a number of launches in Tasmania which I get reports about. After Carolyn's was published the long-awaited chapbook from Alison Thompson Slow Skipping came out.

Alison is from my own locality (ie boondocks) so I was very pleased about that. It's rare. Half of the titles originate from the Northern Territory or Tasmania.

In fact, one of the runners up for the Chapbook Award was also published - and was from the Northern Territory. This was Jennifer Mills with Treading Earth. I love this book. It has the qualities of the landscape it was written in. Have a look.

The next title will be different and is posing some production problems which might delay it. We shall overcome. There will also be another exciting opportunity in the second half of the year - but first, let us survive the 2009 Chapbook Award!

A well-deserved award to Di Bates

Good news! Di Bates, the much acclaimed children's writer from the 'Gong who is also a great champion of writing for children, has been given Lady Cutler Award.

The Lady Cutler Award has been presented annually since 1981 for distinguished service to children’s literature. It is sponsored by Hachette Livre & hosted by the Children’s Book Council of NSW.

PressPress Chapbook Award

Poetry and the Prime Minister's award

... and this is the reply I got:

Dear Chris,

Thank you for contacting us with your enquiry.

The Prime Minister’s Literary Awards celebrate the contribution of Australian literature to the nation’s cultural and intellectual life. The awards recognise literature’s importance to our national identity, community and economy.

Non-fiction works may include biographies, autobiographies, histories, philosophy, literary criticism and works dealing with contemporary issues are eligible.

Works may be entered in either the Fiction or Non-Fiction category of these awards but may not be entered in both.

I am not able to provide specific advice on your work but please note that works must have been first published between 1 January 2007 and 31 December 2007
with at least 750 copies produced by a publisher.

Kind regards,

Karen

Karen Bell
Prime Minister's Literary Awards
Literature and Lending Rights (PLR & ELR)
Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts
GPO Box 3241
CANBERRA ACT 2601

Ph: 1800 707 889
Fax: (02) 672 1651
Web: http://www.arts.gov.au/pmliteraryawards
Email: pmliteraryawards@environment.gov.au

In other words, no actual reply.

Prime Minister's Literary Awards

PressPress received this:

Entries for the 2008 Prime Minister’s Literary Awards are now open.
The Prime Minister’s Literary Awards are a new initiative celebrating the contribution of Australian literature to the nation’s cultural and intellectual life.

A prize of $100 000, proposed to be tax free, will be awarded to the work judged to be of the highest literary merit in each of two categories:

Fiction
Non-Fiction
Authors, publishers and literary agents are eligible to enter books written by living Australian citizens and permanent residents. Works must be first published in English and first offered for general sale between 1 January and 31 December 2007.

Entry forms for the Awards and the guidelines, outlining eligibility criteria and providing further information, are attached to this email.


Completed entry submissions must be received by the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts by 2pm, Friday 28 March 2008 (Australian Eastern Standard Time).

If once you have read the guidelines you require further information, please contact the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards, at the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts:

Phone: 1800 707 889
Email: pmliteraryawards@environment.gov.au

Regards

Christabel Wright
Manager - Literature and Lending Rights
Culture Division
Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts

Naturally I wrote to ask what category I should submit the poetry titles under.

I await a reply.

PressPress Chapbook Award 2008

This has just opened. If you could tell people, it would be good. I'm looking for really good material!

The PressPress Poetry Chapbook Award 2008 has opened for submissions. You need 30-40 pages of original poetry to enter.

The winning the Award will get you:
1. incalculable glory
2. $300AUD
3. Publication of a chapbook with PressPress.

Full guidelines and entry form on the PressPress site at www.presspress.com.au.


Many thanks
Chris