Penguin Literary Prize 2023 winner announced

Penguin Random House Australia (PRH) has announced Jade and Emerald by Michelle See-Tho as the winner of the 2023 Penguin Literary Prize.

Jade and Emerald is the story of a lonely girl who forms an unlikely bond with a rich hedonistic socialite. The friendship strains her already-fraught relationship with her strict mother.

See-Tho, whose novel was chosen from over 300 entries and a shortlist of six, receives $20,000 and a publishing contract with PRH Australia. Said See-Tho: ‘I was already speechless that I’d been shortlisted, so when I found out I’d won it was a dream come true! I’ve worked really hard on this novel, and to be recognised by a huge publisher like Penguin is beyond rewarding.’

PRH publisher Meredith Curnow said: ‘We are delighted that the Penguin Literary Prize continues to find new voices and stories that offer different readings of life in Australia. Michelle See-Tho’s Jade and Emerald bristles with life and potential and some powerful commentary, too.’

This year’s judging panel for the prize included Curnow, PRH senior editor Kathryn Knight, Boffins purchasing manager Sarah Custer, Readings head book buyer Alison Huber and Booktopia fiction and children’s book specialist Ben Hunter.

Said Huber: ‘Michelle See-Tho’s vibrant writing style stood out to me immediately as a fresh new Australian voice. The story she tells in Jade and Emerald explores family, desire, and class in imaginative and innovative ways, and I’m excited to see this work in print.’

The Penguin Literary Prize, launched in 2017, was established to ‘find, nurture and develop new Australian authors of literary fiction’. Previous winners include Kathryn Hind with Hitch, Imbi Neeme with The Spill, Sophie Overett with The Rabbits, James McKenzie Watson with Denizen, and Annette Higgs with On A Bright Hillside in Paradise, to be published in July 2023.

PRH will publish Jade and Emerald in 2024.

Category: Awards Local news