Dechian wins 2019 ABR Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize

Victoria-based writer Sonja Dechian has won the Australian Book Review’s (ABR) 2019 Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize for her story ‘The Point-Blank Murder’.

The judges said of the winning story: ‘At once tender and sinister, “The Point-Blank Murder” is a story of parental vigilance, with all of its new terrors … This assured story is drum-skin taut—it trusts that its readers will find their way into its dark corners, and then emerge, bleary-eyed, back into the merciless sunlight.’

Dechian receives $5000. Raaza Jamshed placed second and receives $3000 for her story ‘Miracle Windows’, and Morgan Nunan placed third and receives $2000 for his story ‘Rubble Boy’. The three stories were chosen from almost 1400 entries from 35 different countries.

The winning stories will appear in the ABR’s September fiction issue. The judges also commended three stories: ‘Hero Manifest’ by Bill Collopy, ‘Lizard Boy’ by Brendan Sargeant, and ‘Supermarket Love’ by Elleke Boehmer. The commended stories will be published on the ABR website.

The prize, now in its ninth year, has been open to international entries since 2014. This year’s judges were Maxine Beneba Clarke, John Kinsella and Beejay Silcox.

To read the shortlisted stories and for more information about the 2019 prize, click here.

Category: Awards Local news