2021 Mark and Evette Moran Nib Literary Award shortlist announced

Waverley Council is delighted to announce the shortlist for the 2021 Mark and Evette Moran Nib Literary Award.

The Nib Award is Waverley Council’s annual celebration of excellence in research and writing and celebrates its 20th anniversary this year with a total prize offering of $28,500

It remains Australia’s only major literary award of its kind presented by a local council. Judging criteria includes high literary merit, quality of research, readability and value to the community.

Nib Award Head Judge Jamie Grant said this year’s Nib shortlist “has been chosen from the largest and most diverse field that the prize has yet known”.

This 2021 shortlist includes:

• Son of the Brush (Allen & Unwin) by art identity and Woollahra gallery owner, Tim Olsen of Sydney, NSW
• Only Happiness Here: In Search of Elizabeth von Arnim (UQP) by Puberty Blues co-author, biographer and essayist Gabrielle Carey of Sydney, NSW
• The Winter Road: A Story of Legacy, Land and a Killing at Croppa Creek (Black Inc) by In My Skin: A memoir author and columnist, Kate Holden, of NSW
• A Letter to Layla: Travels to Our Deep Past and Near Future (Text Publishing) by journalist and broadcaster, Ramona Koval, of VIC
• The Believer: Encounters with Love, Death & Faith (Text publishing) by The Trauma Cleaner author Sarah Krasnostein, of VIC
• Amnesia Road: Landscape, violence and memory (New South Books) by cultural historian Luke Stegemann, of QLD.

“The subjects explored by our shortlisted authors range from literature to agriculture, from environmentalism to religion, and from art history to Aboriginal affairs, set in places as widely separated as an aristocratic estate in Germany, the mountains and fertile valleys of Spain in a book that also explores the Mulga plains of south-west Queensland, the rich soil near Moree in NSW, and a childhood spent partly within walking distance of the Waverley Council local government area,” Grant said.

“There are biographies, true crime stories, philosophical meditations, and personal memoirs among the shortlisted books, a variety that the judges hope will include as many different readers as possible.”

Mayor of Waverley, Paula Masselos, said Waverley Council was proud to be able to continue this valuable award for 20 years and directly support Australian writers, especially during these challenging times.

“Our 2021 shortlist delivers a riveting collection of research-based works that challenge how we see the world and each other,” Mayor Masselos said. “A total of 150 nominations from all over Australia were received for the Nib this year, and our authors should be very proud of making the shortlist.” Authors named have each received the Alex Buzo Shortlist Prize ($1,000), named in honour of the respected Australian playwright who was a former judge of the Nib Award, and instrumental in its development. Finalists are eligible for the People’s Choice Prize ($2,500) and the Mark and Evette Moran Nib Literary Award ($20,000). Voting is now open for the People’s Choice Prize at waverley.nsw.gov.au/nib . Voting closes 25 October 2021. Winners will be announced in an online event on 24 November.

-ENDS-

The Mark & Evette Moran Nib Literary Award is 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.

Media Enquiries: media@waverley.nsw.gov.au or 0416 075 532

Nib Award inquiries (excluding media): nibaward@waverley.nsw.gov.au