2024 Shortlist Something for every reader!
Mystery, history, canines and tales from the frontline—we are thrilled to unveil the 2024 Western Australian Premier's Book Awards shortlist.
Twenty-eight local writers and illustrators have been recognised across five categories, with the shortlisted titles spanning fiction, non-fiction, narrative poetry, children’s books, essays and memoir. There's something for every reader!
Tune in on Friday 7 June at 6:45pm WST to watch the live stream of the awards ceremony. on the State Library Youtube channel.
The Shortlist
Daisy Utemorrah Award for Unpublished Indigenous Junior and Young Adult Fiction ($15,000 and a publishing contract with Magabala Books)
- Dr Stephen Hagan – Acacia: 6 Eyes on Yesterday
- Maureen Glover – Brothers in Arms
- Elise Thornthwaite – Underneath the Surface
- Marly and Linda Wells – Dusty Tracks
Premier’s Prize for an Emerging Writer ($15,000)
- I am the Mau and other stories by Chemutai Glasheen, published by Fremantle Press
- The Map of William by Michael Thomas, published by Fremantle Press
- Old Boy by Georgia Tree, published by Fremantle Press
- Salt River Road by Molly Schmidt, published by Fremantle Press
- The Things We Live With by Gemma Nisbet, published by Upswell Publishing
Premier’s Prize for Children’s Book of the Year ($15,000)
- City of Light, written by Julia Lawrinson, illustrated by Heather Potter and Mark Jackson, published by Wild Dog Books
- The Eerie Excavation: An Alice England Mystery by Ash Harrier, published by Pantera Press
- A Friend for George, written and illustrated by Gabriel Evans, published by Puffin, an imprint of Penguin Random House Australia
- Our Country: Where History Happened, written by Mark Greenwood and illustrated by Frané Lessac, published by Walker Books Australia
- Scout and the Rescue Dogs by Dianne Wolfer, published by Walker Books Australia
Premier’s Prize for Book of the Year, sponsored by Writing WA ($15,000)
- A Better Place by Stephen Daisley, published by Text Publishing
- Cellnight: A verse novel by John Kinsella, published by Transit Lounge
- The Memory of Trees by Viki Cramer, published by Thames & Hudson Australia
- Operation Hurricane by Paul Grace, published by Hachette Australia
- What’s for Dinner? by Jill Griffiths, published by Thames & Hudson Australia
Western Australian Writer’s Fellowship ($60,000)
- Lucy Dougan
- Alan Fyfe
- Kylie Howarth
- Laurie Steed
- Emma Young
The WA Premier’s Book Awards are an annual event recognising excellence by Western Australian authors and illustrators. The exceptional works on the shortlist represent uniquely Western Australian tales as well as ideas and perspectives which enrich our knowledge of the wider world.
The Daisy Utemorrah Award for Unpublished Indigenous Junior and Young Adult Fiction is administered and funded by Brome-based publisher Magabala Books with support from the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries and Copyright Agency. The Premier’s Prize for Book of the Year is sponsored by Writing WA.
The winners will share $120,000 in prizes including the coveted $60,000 Western Australian Writer’s Fellowship, which will afford one local writer the chance to research and write a new work.
The winners will be announced on 7 June 2024 at the State Library of Western Australia alongside the biennial Western Australian Writers Hall of Fame announcement. The awards will be Auslan interpreted and live streamed on the State Library YouTube channel.
Discover more
Legal deposit
Find out more about legal deposit for WA authors and publishers, depositing government publications, and depositing electronic publications. Legal deposit includes books, graphic novels, comics, maps and so much more.
News
12 April 2024
The State Library is conducting a review of the Western Australian Premier’s Book Awards. The survey is open to anyone with an interest in the WA writing industry. Survey closed on 13 May.
A curated loanable collection of nearly 2000 popular fiction and non-fiction books written by WA authors or about WA. The Read WA collection is on the Ground Floor inside the Discovery Lounge and contains newspapers, magazines, books and DVDs.
2024 WA Premier's Book Awards Ceremony Live Stream
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Watch the State Library of Western Australia light up in a glittering awards ceremony. From the comfort of home, join us online to see if your favourite books and authors win the major prizes. Who will inducted into the WA Writer's Hall of Fame.? Auslan interpreted.