Image: Back row left to right: Holden Sheppard, winner of the 2018 Hungerford Award, Ben Lawver, Fremantle Mayor, David Harris, Jessica Kennedy
Front row left to right: Michal Stone, Greg Taylor
Four Western Australian writers are shortlisted for the Hungerford Award. This year, 128 manuscripts were received, the largest number in the Award's 35-year history.
The shortlist includes one novel, a work of narrative non-fiction, a collection of narrative non-fiction essays and a verse novel. The shortlisted works are:
- Moments in the Dust (fiction) by David Harris, Glen Forrest
- The Ridicule and Resurrection of Marija Gimbutas (narrative non-fiction) by Jessica Kennedy, Carlisle
- Torch (verse novel) by Michal Stone, Mount Lawley
- Wildlife of the Open Eucalyptus Forests (narrative non-fiction essays) by Greg Taylor, Claremont
Supported by the City of Fremantle, the Hungerford Award is a biennial prize for an unpublished work of adult fiction, young adult fiction, narrative non-fiction, or verse novel by a debut Western Australian writer, judged anonymously. The winner receives a cash prize of $15,000, a publishing contract with Fremantle Press and a fellowship with the Centre for Stories.
Speaking on behalf of Fremantle Press, Publisher Georgia Richter said the record number of submissions proved how vital it was to have an award exclusively for Western Australian writers. Georgia said, 'It is a wonderful way to cap off a year of celebrations that began with the Fremantle Press 50th anniversary and now ends with this bumper crop of entries into the State's longest-running and most prestigious manuscript prize. The Hungerford's legacy of identifying talent and launching careers is something we are very proud of, and we can't wait to introduce our shortlisted writers to the community.'
Carlisle-based author Jessica Kennedy said getting shortlisted was a tremendous boost. The Ridicule and Resurrection of Marija Gimbutas is the story of an archaeology professor whose ideas were ridiculed by the world at large. Jessica said, 'This is a gripping biography of an extraordinary woman, whose work tells us that violence and inequality are not intrinsic to human nature. Her message feels so timely to me right now … She offered this tremendous vision of hope and reassurance.'
Greg Taylor, a Claremont-based ecologist specialising in birds, said being shortlisted for the Hungerford for his essay collection was deeply moving. The author of Wildlife of the Open Eucalyptus Forests, said, 'It has made me wonder whether there is something in these species' lives that speaks to a broader audience than I had imagined. Maybe, instead of just animal-nerds like myself, the audience is - well, all of us.'
Michal Stone is based in Mount Lawley but spent her summers in Dunsborough. Her verse novel took nine years of percolation and seven weeks of writing ten hours per day on weekends, and before and after work. She describes Torch as part love letter, part reckoning. Michal said, 'My heart and soul went into Torch. And there were many dark moments, during the writing and afterwards - when I was querying agents and was knocked back over and over - when I wondered if anyone would ever read it.'
The most experienced writer of those shortlisted, David Harris of Glen Forrest, said Moments in Dust was only possible to write when he finally stopped trying to think of what might get him published. The award-winning short story writer, said, 'Moments in the Dust is about two best friends who leave Kalgoorlie to head into the far north of Western Australia to work on a cattle station. At least, that's what happens. What it's about is toxic friendship, generational trauma, survivorship and the reasons why young men struggle to become men in truth.'
The 35th Hungerford Award was judged by consulting judges Chemutai Glasheen, Marcella Polain and Richard Rossiter alongside Fremantle Press publishers Georgia Richter and Cate Sutherland.
The winner will be announced on Friday 16 October at Walyalup Civic Centre on the final night of Totally Lit Festival. Hosted by Deb Fitzpatrick, Natasha Lester will share how winning the award helped kickstart her stellar career. Hungerford alumni Fiona Wilkes and Howard McKenzie-Murray will read from their shortlisted novels I Remember Everything and This is Where We Say Goodbye, respectively. The night will culminate with an introduction to the four shortlisted writers who are in the running for the prize. Tickets are free and available now.
