The Cowley Literary Award is a global short story competition that was launched in January 2013. Created by Mike Coward of respected company Australian Art Sales, The Cowley Literary Award is named in honour of Mrs Jennifer Cowley, a highly regarded writer and media consultant (and old university pal of mine) who’s many accomplishments include being the current editor of the Dubbo Weekender. 

This brand new international short story competition for both fiction and non-fiction joins a number of other high profile arts awards (6 in all) that are coordinated by Australian Art Sales. These awards include; The Mortimore Art Prize, the Inglis Equine Art Prize, the Macquarie Photography Prize, My Video Award and My Song Award.

Australian Art Sales also coordinates the group known as The 30 Realists. Multi award winning Australian painters, illustrators and sculptors who exhibit regularly each year.

In these difficult economic times when publishers are bemoaning the effects of both the global financial crisis and the seemingly endless advances in digital publishing it is wonderful to see an ongoing commitment to the written word. I am delighted to be playing a role in this newly established literary prize, joining fellow judges, Ms Sally Bryant an Australian Broadcasting Corporation journalist and writer, and Mark Dapin , best selling Australian author and journalist.

Please do check out the links in this blog if you are interested in submitting works to this wonderful lnew prize.