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Four UQP authors win Queensland Literary Awards
Posted 04.09.2020

Four UQP authors win Queensland Literary Awards

We are thrilled to share that UQP authors Joe Gorman, Mirandi Riwoe, Penny Tangey and Lisa Fuller, have all won Queensland Literary Awards. Our congratulations to Joe, Mirandi, Penny and Lisa on this fantastic achievement!

Queensland Premier's Award for a Work of State Significance

Winner:Heartland: How Rugby League Explains Queensland by Joe Gorman

Judges' comments:

Superbly written, Heartland is a compelling insight into rugby league’s State of Origin and the role it plays in the identity of Queensland. Gorman moves the narrative seamlessly, shining a light on key individuals and events within a social and political context. This is an outstanding work of literary non-fiction.

The University of Queensland Fiction Book Award

Winner:Stone Sky Gold Mountainby Mirandi Riwoe

Judges' comments:

An impressive and accomplished work of literary fiction, Riwoe’s prose is lucidly crisp, poetic and a pleasure to read. An engaging tale of outsiders, the novel explores a lesser known story of the many Chinese migrants who settled in Queensland, and the intense discrimination and hardships they suffered.

Griffith University Children's Book Award

As Fast As I Canby Penny Tangey

Judges' comments:

When a young girl’s Olympic dreams hit an unexpected obstacle a richly realised gallery of family, friends, and community rally in their different ways to support her. Pitch perfect writing effectively conveys a child's voice and world view, combining comedy with a serious take on dreaming big and accepting life’s challenges.

Griffith University Young Adult Book Award

Ghost Birdby Lisa Fuller

Judges' comments:

In Ghost Bird, Lisa Fuller captures the distinctive voice and landscape of regional Queensland, where twins Stacey and Laney confront a stark and terrifying spiritual presence in a place where modern society sits uneasily alongside the most ancient culture on earth. A tense coming-of-age story about anger and forgiveness.