George Megalogenis has been shortlisted in the 2016 Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards for his political non-fiction work Australia’s Second Chance.
The anticipated shortlist was announced on Monday by Minister for Creative Industries Martin Foley, who said “this year’s shortlist includes some of our country’s best-known writers alongside emerging voices”.
Included are 21 of the most notable works of fiction, non-fiction, drama, poetry and writing for young adults produced Down Under in the past 12 months.
“The Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards showcase the strength and diversity of Australian literature,” said Mr Foley.
“These stories do what great literature does best: they allow us to reflect on the past, or explore an imagined future.”
Megalogenis is one of six authors recognised under the non-fiction category, along with Karen Lamb’s Thea Astley: Inventing Her Own Weather, Drusilla Modjeska’s Second Half First, Gerald Murnane’s Something for the Pain, Brenda Niall’s Mannix and Modern Love: The Lives of John and Sunday Reed by Lesley Harding and Kendrah Morgan.
The winning author of each category will receive a prize of $25,000, and go on to contest the Victorian Prize for Literature – Australia’s richest literary award, worth $100,000.
Book lovers are also being encouraged to participate in the awards process by voting for their favourite work; the winner named for the People’s Choice Award will receive $2,000.
Winners will be announced on Thursday 28 January, 2016 at an official ceremony set to take place on the main lawn of the Parliament of Victoria.
To vote for the People’s Choice Award, visit www.wheelercentre.com