Michael Sala’s The Last Thread has just won the 2013 Commonwealth Regional Book Prize.
I haven’t read it myself, but Sue at Whispering Gums has, and you can read her review here.
Sala’s delighted publishers, Affirm Press have sent the following press release:
Michael will now represent Australia and the Pacific region in vying for the main Commonwealth Book Prize, which will be awarded for the best first book of 2012, and announced on 31 May at the Hay Festival in Wales.
Maintaining a proud Australian tradition of success in this award, The Last Thread joins notable recent Regional award winners: Me and Mr Booker by Cory Taylor (Text Publishing) in 2012; That Deadman Dance by Kim Scott (Picador) in 2011; and The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas (Allen & Unwin) in 2009.
On news of the award, Michael Sala said from his home in Newcastle, “I’ve always felt that the best writing crosses international boundaries, and that has always been my ambition as a writer. To be acknowledged by the Commonwealth Book Prize so early in my career is just incredibly exciting. With such diversity and talent on the shortlist, I feel honoured and humbled to be selected as a regional winner. I can’t thank the Commonwealth Book Prize enough for this wonderful opportunity to get my work out into the wider world.”
Michael Sala and The Last Thread are described by Raimond Gaita thus:
“Michael Sala has a rare gift: in prose that takes your breath away, he tells a story of heart-rending sorrow without a trace of sentimentality. His debut as a novelist is one to celebrate.”
Martin Hughes, Publisher at Affirm Press, said: “We are delighted that Michael’s talent has been recognised regardless of the size and relative newness of his publisher. It’s a credit to Michael, his editor, and a collaborative approach to publishing that is a joy to be part of.”
Congratulations to both author and publisher!
Availability: The Last Thread
ANZ LitLovers LitBlog 
Congratulations to Michael. :-)
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By: readinpleasure on May 15, 2013
at 11:23 pm
Thanks for the link Lisa … I too got notification of this award but decided to wait writing my post until we got back today. I really hate writing posts while I’m travelling. They always seem to take twice as long!
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By: whisperinggums on May 16, 2013
at 10:30 pm
I know what you mean, I can do it ok if I have my own laptop, and if I have good reliable and not too expensive internet access, but otherwise, I agree, it’s too hard!
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By: Lisa Hill on May 17, 2013
at 5:57 pm
Oh Lisa thanks, and yet you do a great job when you are travelling. I’m always impressed by how much you manage to blog on your trips. Or do you travel with your own laptop? Of course the internet access is important too!
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By: whisperinggums on May 17, 2013
at 6:01 pm
Last time was easy because yes, I took my laptop, and Russia has high speed internet everywhere and it’s cheap. But on the trip before that, especially in France, it was woeful and often the iPad was the only thing that would connect, and I cannot bear typing on an iPad. And here in Australia where internet access outside the cities is sooooo bad, I often give up entirely, e.g. in the Hunter Valley, down on the south coast, parts of Tassie etc etc. Bring on the NBN!
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By: Lisa Hill on May 17, 2013
at 6:23 pm
We are thinking of getting a little MacAir for our next trip … that will be closer to my normal environment and will make it easier for me (if we end up going that way) but yes, isn’t access woeful around Australia even in big country towns.
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By: whisperinggums on May 17, 2013
at 6:27 pm
I was stunned when I found how bad it was in the Hunter. Actually quite scary when it’s bushfire season and you’re staying off the beaten track as we were.
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By: Lisa Hill on May 17, 2013
at 6:57 pm
Oh yes, I remember now you’re commenting on that when you were there.
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By: whisperinggums on May 17, 2013
at 7:57 pm