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MUD Literary Prize increases to $10K, 2023 shortlist announced

Friday, 10 February 2023   Books+Publishing
@booksandpublishing

The shortlist for the 2023 MUD Literary Prize has been announced.

The five shortlisted works, chosen from 33 submissions, are:

  • The Islands (Emily Brugman, A&U)
  • All That’s Left Unsaid (Tracey Lien, HarperCollins)
  • The Furies (Mandy Beaumont, Hachette)
  • The Silence of Water (Sharron Booth, Fremantle Press)
  • A Great Hope (Jessica Stanley, Picador).

In the sixth year of the prize, the MUD Literary Prize committee has announced it will double the winner’s prize money to $10,000 due to a donation from the Nunn Dimos Foundation.

Presented each year, the MUD Literary Prize is open to all Australian writers who have published their first literary novel in the calendar year preceding Adelaide Writers’ Week. The novel does not have to be the writer’s first book. The prize is not open to genre and commercial fiction. The prize is awarded by Adelaide philanthropic group MUD Literary Club.

The 2023 judging panel comprises Adelaide Writers’ Week Director Louise Adler, Kerryn Goldsworthy, Noel Grieve, David Sly and MUD Literary Club chair Andrew Saies (Chair), and committee member Mandy Thomas.

‘This year’s top five novels demonstrate impressive talent across a wide range of subject matter. Each book adds insights into modern Australia, from the historical to the contemporary, from wider politics to family dramas, from rural to city life, from different migrant experiences and from the effects of crime on families,’ said Louise Adler. ‘These five debut novels reflect the quality of Australia’s literary culture today and the ongoing commitment of publishers to support and nurture new voices. This is a stellar shortlist which showcases the range and diversity of Australian literature in 2023.’

The winner of the 2023 MUD Literary Prize will be announced in the week before Adelaide Writers’ Week commences, and presented with their prize during a special award and interview session at Adelaide Writers’ Week on Monday, 6 March.

The winner of the 2022 award was Love & Virtue by Diana Reid (Ultimo).

 

Category: Awards Local news