HQ FICTION AND ASA ANNOUNCE WINNER OF COMMERCIAL FICTION PRIZE

27.03.20

HQ Fiction, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers Australia, and the Australian Society of Authors are delighted to announce the winner of the ASA/HQ Commercial Fiction Prize for unpublished manuscripts is Brunswick Street Blues by Sally Bothroyd. As the winner of the prize, Sally will receive a publishing contract with a $10,000 advance against royalties. Described as a compelling and distinctively Australian mystery set on the mean streets of Melbourne, Brunswick Street Blues will be published by HQ Fiction in 2022. The author Sally Bothroyd is a director of the Northern Territory Writers Centre and former journalist. Sally commented: 

‘Writing a novel is such a huge journey, and I'm looking forward to working with HQ on the final stretch! I'm so excited to win this award, and I want to congratulate the other authors who were shortlisted. Thanks also to the ASA for partnering with HQ to offer this opportunity to unpublished authors.’

The runner up is Nina and Pearl by Fleur Glenn, a meditative and evocative story of love, loss and difficult decisions. Fleur will receive 20 hours free consultation towards a comprehensive audit of her online presence and website, worth $3,000 from Leading Hand Design. 

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, which also included:

• Sargasso by K.W. George: a clever and darkly gothic referencing of the Jean Rhys classic, The Wide Sargasso Sea
• The Vet from Snowy River by Stella Quinn: a warm-hearted Australian story of a new beginning of a small country town

Head of Local Fiction for HQ, Jo Mackay said, ‘We were never in doubt of the range and quality of Australian commercial fiction writing. All the authors on the short list impressed us but Sally’s novel was particularly strong and captured the atmosphere of Melbourne street life brilliantly. We are delighted we are going to be publishing it.’

ASA CEO Olivia Lanchester said, ‘Our huge congratulations to Sally Bothroyd! We are delighted to have partnered with HQ to bring a publishing opportunity to a writer and wish Sally every success with her book.’ 

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