ACT Writers Centre
Literary Award Winners
The following winners were announced at our Christmas party on 18 December 2008.
11th annual Marjorie Graber-McInnis Short Story Award
The judge was award-winning writer, Peter Frankis.
The first prize is $600 and the highly commended each receive a book courtesy of Halstead Press.
The first highly commended certificate went to Peter Papathanasiou for The Encounter.
The second highly commended certificate went to PS Cottier for The List.
The third highly commended certificate went to Michelle Elmit for Stopping.
The fourth highly commended certificate went to Michelle Brock for Vanishing.
The fifth highly commended went to Amanda Galvin Myers for Naivasha.
The winner was Maria Fleming for Skin Deep.
Judge's comments:
“So what are Canberra short story writers writing about this year?
This year’s Marjorie Graber-McInnes short story competition entries were a
mixed bunch: horses, dogs, death, road trips and sex — the usual short story
fare. But new material – the Prime Minister’s apology to the stolen generation
in February and ethnic violence in Africa made it as well.
To those not on the short list, keep at it. Two things distinguished the
finalists — strong, memorable characters and doing something innovative with
language. Short stories encourage experimentation with language. So writers,
look hard at that clichéd line and see if you can find your own words to
describe the sunset, the babbling brook or the granite line of Hugh Jackman’s
jaw.
So, to the short-list. In alphabetical order they were: The Encounter –
a story in two voices about a trucker’s despair and a young Indigenous girl’s
desperation. Two characters: victim and victimiser with their own
justifications but neither able to stop. Two strong voices and some risky material
which I think the writer succeeded with. The List – is a meditation on
love and loss and fleeting happiness on the NSW South Coast, something that’s
dear to every true Canberran’s heart (particularly around this time of year). Naivasha is inspired by the ethnic
violence in Kenya of earlier this year. The author takes the perspectives of
two young people, one dying and the second mourning the future they’ve all lost
in the blood on the dusty street contrasted with the spectacular beauty of the
Rift Valley.
Train trips have long been used as metaphors for a character’s own journey of
discovery. In Stopping, the writer explores what stumbling connections
can two strangers can make while waiting for chocolate ice-cream. Vanishing
is another meditation on loss and families dispersed across the globe. But
through this, the author brings his father alive — such as the story of the
half-way bicycle set back “in the days of bread and dripping” when his father
had to share a bicycle with his brother. The first brother would ride half-way
and leave the bike and walk the remaining distance, the other brother who had
walked the first half would then complete the journey on the bike, allowing
them both to arrive at their destination more or less at the same time.
And to the winner: Skin Deep. Ever wanted to get a tattoo? Well this
story will change your mind (one way or another). Punchy writing and well-paced
plotting reveals the character’s motives and what she’s learned: that revenge
may not be sweet but it can heal, can make you start to feel better. The story
is carried along on a strong current of sex and seduction. “Close your eyes
darling, I’ll be gentle,” croons the tattooist with needle poised. Skin Deep
is a hoot.”
- Peter Frankis
7th ACT Writers Centre Poetry Award
The judge was Geoff Page.
The first prize is $300. The highly commended poet receives a book prize courtesy of Halstead press.
The highly commended prize goes to Kathy Clayden for In Black and White.
The winning poem goes to Kerrie Hannan for Do you remember the Barcelona.
Judges comments:
"Among
the relatively small number of entries were several poems which had
strong lines and memorable images but which were irrevocably spoilt at
some point by a grossly defective line or two. These defects included
poeticisms (such as forced reversals of word order), lurching changes
in tone, clichés,
lines in an otherwise strict form that went seriously awry and became
doggerel, together with other less obvious faults of conception and
execution.
One poem which resisted these problems is Do you remember the Barcelona.
Though the language is relatively plain, it is also direct and honest.
The poem has the feeling of having developed from a real experience via
a technique which is sufficient to do the original moment justice. It
could be more fierce and vivid, given its erotic subject matter, but it
makes no 'mistakes'. I am therefore happy to award it the prize."
- Geoff Page
5th ACT Writing and Publishing Awards
The
judges were Charlotte Violante from The Canberra Times and Kristen
Alexander of Alexander Fax booksellers and respected writers, Irma Gold
and Kel Robertson.
Winners receive $500 voucher for printing through Blue Star.
Fiction
The highly commended award goes to Graeme Wicks for The Real World (Mawson Press).
The winner is Peter Frankis for his collection Not a Flotation Device (Ginninderra Press).
Judges comments:
Not a Flotation Device is a fine collection of bold and experimental stories that displays Peter Frankis's aptitude for the genre.
Non–fiction
The first shortlisted book is Chooks in the City by Alyson Hill (published by Ginninderra Press).
The second shortlisted book is A Boy’s Journey – an Australian memoir of childhood, by Richard Stone (self-published).
The winner is Rainbow by Jennifer Horsfield (Ginninderra Press).
Judges comments:
"Jennifer
Horsfield's Rainbow is a fine
biography, well-constructed and edited to a high standard. Methodically
researched but never dull, it presents a lively portrait
of Rania McPhillamy, the beautiful and accomplished daughter of a wealthy
squatter who left Australia in 1915 to work in a Cairo hospital treating the
wounded from Gallipoli. After the death of her soldier sweetheart she stayed on
in Egypt and together with an older woman, Alice Chisholm, set up a series of
canteens for the men of the Light Horse.
Chooks in the City is an example of
good things coming in small packages. It's entertaining and sure
to inspire Canberrans to take up the chicken challenge.
A Boy's Journey is a compelling
read, in the same vein as memoirs like A Fortunate Life and Angela's
Ashes."
The Z4 Wines Award for Book Reviewing
The judge was award-winning essayist, novelist and reviewer, Marion Halligan.
The prize is wine from Z4 Wines.
The award goes to Stephen Wilks.
Judge's comments:
"A good review can perform two quite paradoxical roles. One is to tell readers whether or not they
may like a certain book, the other is to save them the necessity of reading
it. A good review is its own small work
of art, which might lead you to the book it is talking about, or else put you
off it, or it might tell you as much as you think you want to know about
it. It needs to have its own completeness,
to be written in interesting prose that is not banal, that has a certain wit,
that makes you believe its conclusions.
It should itself be a contribution to the conversation of books.
The reviews considered were of a high standard, and the
choice of winner was difficult. Stephen
Wilks’ offerings are substantial and considered pieces of criticism, offering
not just praise but judgments that assert their own reliability."
- Marion
Halligan