Last year, to some discontent, there was no winner of the 2019 Vogel Literary Award, the annual prize awarded to an author under the age of thirty-five since its inception in 1980. The Vogel, as it is known, has launched the careers of over 100 Australian authors, including Tim Winton, Rohan Wilson, Kate Grenville, Andrew McGahan and Gillian Mears. More recent winners include
- 2018 — Emily Grady, The Yellow House, see my review
- 2017 — Marija Peričić, The Lost Pages, see my review
- 2016 — Katherine Brabon, The Memory Artist, see my review
- 2015 — Murray Middleton, When There’s Nowhere Else to Run, see my review
- 2014 — Christine Piper, After Darkness, see my review
- 2013 — No prize awarded
- 2012 — Paul D. Carter, Eleven Seasons
- 2011 — Rohan Wilson, The Roving Party, see my review
- 2009 — Kristel Thornell, Night Street see my review, and Lisa Lang, Utopian Man, see my review
- 2008 — Andrew Croome, Document Z, see my review
- 2004 — Steven Lang, An Accidental Terrorist, see my review
As you can see, standards for winning the prize are high. But there was no such problem this year. I am pleased to share the press release:
The winner of The Australian/Vogel’s Literary Award 2020 is K.M. Kruimink from Tasmania for A Treacherous Country—an authentic, original and playful novel set in 19th century Tasmania. Competition judge and author Tegan Bennett Daylight calls it a ‘witty, warm and lively story’.
The announcement was made yesterday evening via the Allen & Unwin Facebook page, in a much anticipated virtual event to continue celebrating the rich history of this award in supporting young Australian writers.
I entered this prize when I was 21. Afterwards they invited me to submit it to Sophie Cunningham, who sent me a very nice rejection letter encouraging me to keep writing. I went into journalism instead 🥴
LikeLike
By: kimbofo on April 21, 2020
at 11:29 am
I didn’t know you’d ever been a novelist! Whatever happened to the MS?
(Sophie Cunningham, wow!!)
LikeLike
By: Lisa Hill on April 21, 2020
at 12:12 pm
No idea what happened to the MS. It might be at my parent’s house but my mother burnt a lot of my stuff (don’t ask!!!) and I suspect it probably got thrown on a bonfire. 🤷🏻♀️
LikeLike
By: kimbofo on April 21, 2020
at 1:48 pm
Aaaaagh!
LikeLiked by 1 person
By: Lisa Hill on April 21, 2020
at 6:10 pm
I always look forward to this award!
LikeLike
By: Theresa Smith Writes on April 21, 2020
at 2:33 pm
I like novels that are playful, so I’m looking forward to it too.
LikeLike
By: Lisa Hill on April 21, 2020
at 6:11 pm