Wednesday winnings

The days are slipping by at breakneck speed. At this rate it will be Christmas before we know it. Gulp.

It seems like only yesterday that we were celebrating the new Premier-free Queensland Literary Awards and cheering for our shortlisted books - and now the winners have been announced! And we have HOORAYS for Neil Grant's The Ink Bridge which has won the Young Adult book Award.

You can see all the short-listed authors and the winners here and a round-up of the inaugural awards event here.

The Ink Bridge is a fabulous, and timely, book about two courageous boys - a grieving Melbourne boy and a young Afghan asylum seeker from Bamiyan. We really can't recommend it highly enough. If you haven't read it, here's a little taster trailer where Neil answers questions about The Ink Bridge - and about his research trip to Afghanistan - and over here is his blog about his trip.




To Neil. Big HOORAYS. Huge.

The premiere of the Queensland Literary Awards

One thousand cheers for the Queensland Literary Awards which were established earlier this year - after the Queensland Premier's Awards were cancelled...

These brand new awards have a clear mission. 

Mission
1. To raise the profile of Queensland writing and writers nationally and internationally.
2. To reward and recognise excellence in Australian writing, particularly Queensland writing.
3. To support the development of Australian writing, particularly Australian writing within Queensland.
4. To facilitate the  production and publication of works by emerging and established Australian writers, particularly Queensland writers.
5. To encourage public debate in Queensland and contribute to the public life of the state.
6. To encourage reading in Queensland, particularly among young people.

Big HOORAYS. Huge!

And the most excellent news is that the shortlists for the inaugural awards have been announced. And there is once again happy-dancing in the House!

Shortlisted for the Children's Book Award

Ten Blue Wrens by Elizabeth Honey

Shortlisted for Young Adult Book Award

The Ink Bridge by Neil Grant 

Three Summers by Judith Clarke 

Sea Hearts by Margo Lanagan

Congratulations to all the authors on the shortlists. 

Oh, happy, happy day!