ACT Book of the Year 2021 shortlist announced

The shortlist for the 2021 ACT Book of the Year, which recognises ‘quality contemporary literary works’ by authors based in the ACT, has been announced.

The shortlisted books are:

• Oil Under Troubled Water: Australia’s Timor Sea intrigue (Bernard Collaery, MUP)
• Utterly (P S Cottier, Ginninderra Press)
• Spinoza’s Overcoat: Travels with writers and poets (Subhash Jaireth, Transit Lounge)
• Nigh (Penelope Layland, Recent Work Press)
• The Trials of Portnoy (Patrick Mullins, Scribe)
• Doggerland (Moya Pacey, Recent Work Press).

Of the six shortlisted titles, three are works of poetry and three are nonfiction. The winner receives $10,000, while each shortlisted author receives $1000 and any highly commended book is awarded $2000.

Presented by the ACT government, the prize aims to support the development of ACT-based writers, promote writing in the territory and contribute to a positive writing culture.

The winner will be announced on Thursday, 29 September. For more information, see the ArtsACT website.

Category: Awards Local news