Text announces Steph Bowe Mentorship for Young Writers

Text Publishing has announced the Steph Bowe Mentorship for Young Writers, a new initiative designed to nurture and encourage a new Australian children’s writer under the age of 25.

The initiative, which will run for a period of three years starting in 2021, will be awarded to whichever Text Prize entrant the judging panel believes would most benefit from the mentorship. The winner will be paired with a middle-grade or young adult author for a 20-hour mentorship to develop their manuscript. They will also receive a 12-month membership with Express Media, Voiceworks, and the state writers’ centre of their choice.

The mentorship is held in the memory of young adult author Steph Bowe and to honour her longstanding commitment to fostering and mentoring young writers. Bowe’s first novel was published when she was 16, her books were longlisted for multiple awards, and Night Swimming was named a Children’s Book Council of Australia Notable Book in 2018.

Text senior editor Penny Hueston said: ‘It was an honour to work with Steph Bowe, a prodigiously gifted young writer whose voice is honest, funny and passionate. She was one of the kindest, brightest people I’ve met. We miss her. Each of Steph’s novels—Girl Saves Boy, All This Could End and Night Swimming—is completely original, each one full of heart and soul.’

The Steph Bowe Mentorship is supported by LoveOzYA, Express Media, Voiceworks, and the National Writers’ Centre Network. Entries for the Text Prize and Steph Bowe Mentorship for Young Writers will open in March 2021.

Category: Awards Junior Local news