The Book of the Year Award 2021: Shortlist Announcement

This year’s judging panel is:

• Dr Alexandra Dane, an author, editor, and a lecturer at the University of Melbourne.

• Jess Gately, a freelance editor and writer, director of business development for Underground Writers, and the president of Editors WA.

• Dr Penni Russon, an author and a lecturer at the University of Sydney.

• Marina Sano Litchfield & Jing Xuan Teo, the owners and founders of Amplify Bookstore.

‘Six books were chosen for the shortlist this year, each one a testament to the power of small publishing and the role it plays in giving voice to those who might otherwise be overlooked in mainstream publishing. The shortlisted titles were all examples of strong, engaging writing that tackled a range of issues from identity and culture to family, relationships and abuse. Each book was a thought-provoking read that invited the reader to explore and consider the nuances of the world and people around us.

Almost a Mirror unfolds like a long night out […] the novel invites reflection on the sensory possibilities of prose fiction, as well as conjuring the aesthetics of the late 20^th century.

Collisions is an extraordinarily creative anthology of short fiction clustering the stories around the themes of Bodies, Momentum and Contact.

Echoes [a collection of essays] is a true expression of what it means to (re)connect with one’s culture, blending memoir, cultural commentary and translation with brief vignettes that leave a lasting impact.

A fun, lively and fast-paced coming of age novel that explores the different dynamics and fallout from a newly joint family, Taking Down Evelyn Tait is YA fiction at its finest.

A unique book in the world of Australian small press publishing, The Tiniest House of Time takes readers beyond domestic borders and Western history.

Exploring themes of family, identity, sexuality and belonging, We Are Speaking in Code is a warm, engaging and thought-provoking collection of essays reflecting the immigrant experience.’