THE ANNUAL TEXT PRIZE FOR YOUNG ADULT & CHILDREN’S WRITING

Text is thrilled to announce that Georgina Young is the winner of the 2019 Text Prize for her sharply-observed YA novel, Loner. Georgina receives a publishing contract with Text and a $10,000 advance against royalties.  You can read about Georgina’s book and the other four novels that made up the incredibly strong shortlist for the 2019 Text Prize here.  

Our 2018 winner, Nina Kenwood’s It Sounded Better in My Head was published in August and has already garnered effusive advance praise from booksellers around the country. 

The 2020 Text Prize will open  Monday 6 January and close Friday 7 February, 2020. The 2020 entry form can be downloaded here.

The $10,000 Text Prize aims to discover incredible new books for young adults and children by Australian and New Zealand writers. 

Awarded annually to the best manuscript written for young readers, the prize has unearthed extraordinary, multi-award-winning books and launched international publishing careers. 

Published and unpublished writers of all ages are eligible to enter with works of fiction or non-fiction.

The winner receives a publishing contract with Text and a $10,000 advance against royalties. 

‘The standard of the Text Prize winners always blows me away. The stories are evocative and beautifully written…both young adults and adults alike love and can relate to them.’ Aisling Lawless, 2019 ABA / PRH Young Bookseller of the Year

‘Every year, the students I work with devour the books published through the Text Prize. They find themselves on those pages.’ Karys McEwen, President, CBCA VIC

‘Kudos to the Text Prize for giving a voice to and launching the careers of luminaries Leanne Hall, A. J. Betts and now Nina Kenwood.’ Joy Lawn, YA columnist, Weekend Australian

‘Nobody should be surprised that the Text Prize is producing some of Australia’s finest young adult and children’s writing.’ ALPHAreader

Read the full Q&A with Prize alumni and check out the FAQ.