The finalists for this year’s Australian Book Industry Awards (ABIA) have been announced (Last week actually). This is like Australia’s version of the Academy Awards for books (at least that’s how one press release pitched it) and it is a great glimpse into who’s doing what and what publishers, booksellers and authors have raised their heads up above the trees. The shortlists were voted for by booksellers and publishers from across the country and the winners will be announced on May 18 as part of the 2012 Sydney Writers Festival. Below is an abbreviated listing of some of the categories. A big congrats to local regional bookseller Julie Herbert of Prosound books in Narrabri, northern NSW (Bookseller promotional campaign of the year). Julie told me she’s estatic and we’ve got fingers and toes crossed in anticipation… Congrats to all.
PS. If you try and click on the blue – sorry, they are not links. That’s my quick cut and paste job! Enjoy.
Book of the Year
- Calebs Crossing by Geraldine Brooks (Fourth Estate)
- Past the Shallows by Favel Parrett (Hachette)
- Foals Bread by Gillian Mears (A&U)
- Worse Things Happen At Sea by William McInnes & Sarah Watt (Hachette)
- All That I Am by Anna Funder (Penguin)
- The Street Sweeper by Elliot Perlman (Vintage)
Newcomer of the Year (debut writer)
- Life Without Limits by Nick Vujicic (A&U)
- The Little Veggie Patch Co by Fabian Capomolla & Mat Pember (Plum)
- A Private Life by Michael Kirby (A&U)
- Past the Shallows by Favel Parrett (Hachette)
- The Roving Party by Rohan Wilson (A&U)
Literary Fiction Book of the Year
- Past the Shallows by Favel Parrett (Hachette)
- Calebs Crossing by Geraldine Brooks (Fourth Estate)
- Foals Bread by Gillian Mears (A&U)
- All That I Am by Anna Funder (Penguin)
- The Street Sweeper by Elliot Perlman (Vintage)
General Fiction Book of the Year
- Lolas Secret by Monica McInerney (Michael Joseph)
- The Freudian Slip by Marion von Adlerstein (Hachette)
- Scarecrow and the Army of Thieves by Matthew Reilly (Macmillan)
- Sarah Thornhill by Kate Grenville (Text)
- The Wreckage by Michael Robotham (Sphere)
General Nonfiction Book of the Year
- Biggest Estate on Earth by Bill Gammage (A&U)
- Worse Things Happen At Sea by William McInnes & Sarah Watt (Hachette)
- Womens Stuff by Kaz Cooke (Viking)
- Mawsonby Peter FitzSimons (William Heinemann)
- After Words by Paul Keating (A&U)
Bookseller Promotional Campaign of the Year
- Narrabri ProSound for Left Neglected
- Avid Reader for National Bookshop Day
- Avid Reader for Salon Series
- Riverbend Books for Event Series
- Robinsons Bookshop for Oldest General Independent Bookshop Promotion
- Readings for 1Q84
Publisher of the Year
- Murdoch Books
- Allen & Unwin
- HarperCollins
- Penguin Group
- Random House
Publisher Promotional Campaign of the Year
- Random House for Passion by Lauren Kate
- Random House for Vintage Classics
- Random House for 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami
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