Scribe Publications is delighted to announce the longlist for the 2011 CAL Scribe Fiction Prize for writers over 35:
Sally Bothroyd, 'A Cocoa Jackson Mystery' (NT)
Courtney Collins, 'The Burial' (NSW)
Richard Gosling, 'Bear' (NSW)
John Hughes, 'The Remnants' (NSW)
Lesley Jorgensen, 'Cat and Fiddle' (SA)
Jack Ramsay, 'Brogan's Crossing' (Qld)
Dorothy Simmons, 'Living Like a Kelly' (Vic.)
Scribe received 352 manuscripts in total from writers ranging in age from 35 to 86, and we were very pleased to see the regional range of authors (the full statistics are below). This year the prize money for the winner was increased to $15,000. This longlist now goes to the judges of this year's CAL Scribe Fiction Prize: Blanche Clark, Books Editor at the Herald Sun; Mark Rubbo, CEO of Readings bookstores; and Aviva Tuffield, Fiction Acquisitions Editor at Scribe. A shortlist will be announced in the new year and the winner in February 2011.
In 2009 Scribe launched the CAL Scribe Fiction Prize for an unpublished manuscript by an Australian writer aged 35 and over, regardless of publication history. Many writers only find the time and have acquired the life experience to write fiction later in life. This prize recognises that there are many examples of late bloomers when it comes to writers, certainly in terms of getting published. Youth is already celebrated in so many ways, and Scribe wants to support writers who are emerging or still going strong in their prime. It is Scribe's intention that this prize will raise the profile of Australian fiction, demonstrate our commitment to local authors, and find a wonderful new voice and/or novel.
Scribe gratefully acknowledges the assistance of the Copyright Agency Limited's Cultural Fund.
Statistics for this year's CAL Scribe Fiction Prize:
Gender breakdown: 194 women, 158 men
Age breakdown: Oldest is 86, one of 11 in their 80s; 46 in their 70s; 86 in their 60s; 72 in their 50s; 89 in their 40s; 48 in their 30s.
State breakdown: ACT 25, NSW 134, NT 1, Qld 41, SA 23, Tas 8, Vic 108, WA 11, overseas 1.