Short story award winners unveiled tomorrow

Someone's gotta do it: Peter Carey Short Story Award head judge and 2020 winner Andrew Roff said the quality of entries this year has been high, and it was difficult to pick a winner and a runner up. Photo: SUPPLIED

THE winner and runner-up of the annual Peter Carey Short Story Award will be announced tomorrow afternoon at a ceremony at Lerderderg Library in Bacchus Marsh.

The Best Local Entry will also be revealed, along with the winners of the Moorabool Young Writers’ Awards.

Established in 2017 and named in honour of two-time Booker Prize-winning author, Carey, born in Bacchus Marsh, the award’s first and second place will receive $2000 and $1000 in prize money respectively, plus the golden opportunity to be published in literary journal Meanjin.

Head judge and 2020 winner, Adelaide’s Andrew Roff, said the quality of entries this year has been high.

“I read the long list of 15 stories and what I appreciated was that they’re really varied,” he said.

“They’re different genres, they’re different voices.

“Some are funny, some are dark, some are really heartfelt, but I think they’re all excellent.

“It was a difficult task to whittle down the long list to a short list, and then pick a winner and a runner up.”

Roff also emphasised the value of the awards, as arts funding is what he described as “thin on the ground.”

“But, at least there are opportunities such as this for writers to get their work seen and to build the confidence that you get from this kind of recognition,” he said.

“It’s really important.”

The awards take place tomorrow afternoon. Saturday 14 June, from 2pm at Lerderderg Library.

Reserve a spot via the Moorabool Shire website.