Mark & Evette Moran Nib Literary Award

The Mark & Evette Moran Nib Literary Award presented by Waverley Council with support from Principal Sponsors Mark and Evette Moran, celebrates excellence in research and writing in Australia. It is the only major national literary award of its kind presented by a local council.

Waverley Council is delighted to announce the 2020 winners: Congratulations to:

Fathoms       


Mark & Evette Moran Nib Literary Award ($20,000) 
FATHOMS: The World In The Whale
by Rebecca Giggs (Scribe Publications)

The Deceptions       

Nib People's Choice Prize ($1,000)
The Deceptions
by Suzanne Leal (Allen & Unwin)


Alex Buzo Shortlist Prize ($1,000 each)
The Shortlist Prize is named in recognition of the distinguished author and playwright Alex Buzo, who was a Waverley resident and instrumental in the establishment of the Nib Award.

After the Count Fathoms The DeceptionsFriends and RivalsThe Hilton Bombing The Stranger Artist

Watch on demand

Award Presentation

Complete winners interview

Complete judges report

2020 Mark & Evette Moran Nib Literary Award Longlist

  • Nothing New: A History of Second-hand, Robyn Annear (Text Publishing)
  • After the Count:The death of Davey Browne, Stephanie Convery (Penguin Books Australia)
  • Olive Cotton: A Life in Photography,
    Helen Ennis (Harper Collins Australia)
  • Fathoms: The World in the Whale,
    Rebecca Giggs (Scribe)
  • Benevolence, 
    Julie Janson (Magabala Books)
  • Displaced: A Rural Life, 
    John Kinsella (Transit Lounge)
  • The Deceptions,
    Suzanne Leal (Allen & Unwin)
  • Women, Men and the Whole Damn Thing, David Lesser (Allen & Unwin)
  • The Joy of High Places,
    Patti Miller (New South Publishing)
  • The Trials of Portnoy,
    Patrick Mullins (Scribe)
  • Friends and Rivals,
    Brenda Niall (Text Publishing)
  • David Campbell: A Life of the Poet,
    Jonathan Persse
    (Australian Scholarly Publishing)
  • Truganni,
    Cassandra Pybus (Allen & Unwin)
  • Who Owns History?,
    Geoffrey Robertson
    (Penguin Books Australia)
  • Bruny, Heather Rose (Allen & Unwin)
  • The Hilton Bombing, Imre Salusinksy
    (Melbourne University Press)
  • The Stranger Artist, 
    Quentin Sprague (Hardie Grant Books)
  • Fake, Stephanie Wood
    (Penguin Books Australia)

Mark & Evette Moran Nib Literary Award finalists and Alex Buzo Shortlist Prize winners will be announced on 1 September. The People's Choice Prize and major award winners will be announced on 12 November.

Since its inception, the Nib has distributed more than $400,000 directly to deserving Australian authors including previous winners Erik Jensen, Gideon Haigh, Clare Wright OAM and Nadia Wheatley. In 2020, the Nib has a total prize pool of $27,000 on offer across three categories including the Alex Buzo Shortlist Prize (6x $1,000), Nib People’s Choice Prize ($1,000) and the Mark & Evette Moran Nib Literary Award ($20,000). This year's long-listed titles now progress to the next round of judging and move closer to potentially sharing in total prize pool of $27,000. Winners are decided by an independent panel of three judges each of whom bring a wealth of experience from across the literary world.

Nib Presents 2020 events

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Life changing: The Nib Panel @ Word for Word Festival

22nd Nov 2020

Join us for this very special panel event featuring finalists for the Mark & Evette Moran Nib Literary Award 2020, Stephanie Convery (After the Count: The Death of Davey Browne), Rebecca Giggs (Fathoms: The World in the Whale) and Quentin Sprague (The Stranger Artist: Life at the Edge of Kimberley Painting).


About the Award

The Mark & Evette Moran Nib Literary Award is Waverley Council’s annual celebration of the best in Australian research and writing. Established in 2002 as The Nib Waverley Library Award for Literature, this prestigious prize has so far distributed around $350,000 directly to deserving Australian authors.

Entries are open to all Australian writers regardless of their experience, chosen subject matter or genre. Submitted works are judged against the specific award criteria of excellence in research, high level of literary merit, readability and value to the community. Winners are decided by an independent panel of three judges each of whom bring a wealth of experience from across the literary world.

For all the latest news, click here to subscribe to The Nib eNewsletter.

Send award program inquiries to nibaward@waverley.nsw.gov.au

Media inquiries: Debbie McInnes, DMCPRmedia, 02 9550 9207 or Debbie@dmcpr.com.au

The Mark & Evette Moran Nib Literary Award is administered and presented annually by Waverley Council with the generous support of Principal Sponsors Mark and Evette Moran and the ongoing commitment and assistance of our community partner Gertrude and Alice Bookshop and Café.

The Nib Award acknowledges the important role played by the Friends Of Waverley Library (FOWL) in the establishment and success of the award.

Related forms/documents

Find out more

For further information or details about sponsorship opportunities please contact:
The Nib Award Producer
Email: nibaward@waverley.nsw.gov.au

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