A new chapter as The Australian launches a new literary prize

Two champions of literature, The Australian and HarperCollins Australia, join forces to launch a major new annual literary prize for Australian storytelling.

The Australian’s literary editor Caroline Overington and HarperCollins Australia head of fiction, Catherine Milne, celebrate the creation of a prestigious new fiction prize. Picture: Jane Dempster

Who is Australia’s next great writer?

Two of the nation’s greatest champions of books and literature, The Australian newspaper and HarperCollins Australia, are determined to find out, announcing the creation of a new prize for Australian storytelling.

The Australian Fiction Prize will be awarded annually for book-length work of fiction. It will be open to Australian writers, regardless of age. The winner will receive prizemoney of $20,000, plus an advance of $15,000, but what really sets the prize apart isn’t a cheque or a trophy; it’s publication.

HarperCollins Australia, will publish the winning manuscript as a novel, meaning the author will see their work on the ­nation’s bookshelves alongside novels by celebrated Harper­Collins writers including Trent Dalton, Dervla McTiernan and Holly Ringland.

The prize has been created as part of The Australian’s 60th birthday celebrations, and as part of the national broadsheet’s commitment to a vibrant cultural life.

The winner of the new prize will have their work published as a novel, to stand alongside books by Trent Dalton, left, pictured here with actor Jason Klarwein, who plays Trent in the Brisbane Festival stage adaptation of Dalton’s Love Stories. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen

Editor-in-chief Michelle Gunn said: “Storytelling is, of course, in our DNA, here at The Australian. We have many talented authors on our staff, writers of both fiction and non-fiction, including the extraordinary Trent Dalton and our formidable books editor, Caroline Overington.

“The truth is that this masthead has been devoted to covering the nation’s rich literary life since the very early days of the newspaper, 60 years ago. It is part of our commitment to serious coverage of arts, culture and creativity.

“And so we are thrilled to today announce The Australian Fiction Prize in partnership with HarperCollins. Together we will affirm, connect and energise the world of literature by showcasing emerging authors from across the country who stir our hearts and imaginations.”

HarperCollins Australia publishing director Brigitta Doyle said: “HarperCollins has a long history of discovering and ­championing iconic Australian voices, from Banjo Paterson to Trent Dalton, so we couldn’t be more excited and delighted to be launching this new fiction prize with The Australian to find this country’s next great ­storyteller.”

The Australian Fiction Prize will build on the legacy of the Vogel’s award, previously ­sponsored by The Australian, Allen & Unwin, and Vogel’s.

One of Australia’s oldest ­literary prizes, The Vogel’s began in 1980 when entrepreneur Niels Stevns approached The Australian to start a literary prize. Stevns wanted to give something back to the nation that had made possible his flourishing business.

The judges of the Vogel’s award, which was for young writers, had enormous success: the prize was won by a young Tim Winton, who would go on to win four Miles Franklin Awards; ­Orange Prize winner Kate Grenville; and Andrew McGahan, who won it for Praise, which later became an award-winning film.

Australian author Holly Ringland is published by HarperCollins. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Stewardship of the prize now passes to The Australian and HarperCollins, who will honour its legacy with the new prize, open to all Australian writers, ­regardless of age.

The final winner of The Australian/Vogel’s Award will be published in June. The new ­fiction prize will be open for ­entries in May.