HQ FICTION AND ASA ANNOUNCE SHORTLIST FOR COMMERCIAL FICTION PRIZE

10.03.20

HQ Fiction, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers Australia, and the Australian Society of Authors are delighted to announce the shortlist of unpublished manuscripts in contention for the ASA/HQ Commercial Fiction Prize.

The competition received 120 entries, showcasing a wide array of uniquely Australian and New Zealand voices.

HQ Fiction publishers and editors shortlisted the top four manuscripts. They are:

• Brunswick Street Blues by Sally Bothroyd from Darwin: a distinctly Australian mystery set on the mean streets of Melbourne
• Sargasso by K.W. George from Brisbane: a clever and darkly gothic referencing of the Jean Rhys’ classic, The Wide Sargasso Sea
• Nina and Pearl by Fleur Glenn from Melbourne: a meditative and evocative story of love, loss and difficult decisions
• The Vet from Snowy River by Stella Quinn from Brisbane: a warm-hearted Australian story of a new beginning of a small country town

The winner and runner up will be announced on Friday 27th March.

The winner will receive a publishing contract with HQ Fiction and a $10,000 advance against royalties. The runner up will receive a prize of 20 hours free consultation towards a comprehensive audit of their online presence and website, worth $3,000 from Leading Hand Design.

Head of Local Fiction for HQ, Jo Mackay said, ‘We were never in doubt of the range and quality of Australian commercial fiction writing. This shortlist simply confirms the vibrancy and vigour of our storytelling. All the authors on the shortlist impressed us.’

ASA CEO Olivia Lanchester said, ‘The ASA is delighted to have partnered with HQ to deliver the ASA/HQ Prize for Australian authors. Our thanks to HarperCollins for providing this publishing opportunity. We were so pleased by the great response and are equally impressed by the strength and quality of the shortlist.’

For media enquiries please contact ASA Marketing and Communications Manager Emily Banyard on comms@asauthors.org or 02 9211 1004