ACT Literary Awards


The ACT Literary Awards, formerly known as the ACT Writing and Publishing Awards, are a suite of Australian literary honours coordinated and presented annually by MARION. The awards recognise outstanding literary achievement in Canberra and surrounding regions, with categories spanning fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and children's literature. The suite also includes in memoriam prizes and funded mentorships that support both emerging and established writers.

History

The ACT Writers Centre was established in 1994 to support writers in the Australian Capital Territory.
The inaugural ACT Writing and Publishing Awards were presented in 2004.
In 2022, the organisation was renamed MARION ACT, and the awards became known as the MARION Book Awards. Since then, the awards program has evolved into the ACT Literary Awards, which now encompasses multiple categories across fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and children's literature. The suite also includes memorial prizes honouring distinguished individuals, as well as funded mentorships for emerging and established writers.

Categories

In 2004, the Centre launched the ACT Writing and Publishing Awards, coordinated and presented annually to recognise excellence in local writing.
In 2022, the organisation rebranded as MARION, and the awards were briefly renamed the MARION Book Awards. Since then, the program has expanded and evolved into the ACT Literary Awards, coordinated by MARION as part of its annual programming. The awards now include categories for fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and children's literature, and also incorporate in memoriam prizes and funded mentorships supporting both emerging and established writers in the ACT and surrounding regions.
In 2023, MARION introduced the MARION Fellowship, a developmental opportunity open to emerging writers, regardless of location. In 2024, the Marion Halligan Award was established in memory of acclaimed Australian author Marion Halligan OAM. This award recognises work that demonstrates uniqueness, literary excellence, and a capacity to surpass genre. It is selected from across all categories of the ACT Literary Awards.

List of winners

2024 AWARDS

Fiction Self-published Highly Commended: The Last Famine by Elisa Cristallo
Fiction Traditional PublishingWinner: Girl in a Pink Dress by Kylie Needham Highly Commended: Untethered by Ayesha Inoon
NonFiction Self-published Winner: Neither King nor Saint by Helen Topor
NonFiction Traditional PublishingWinner: Bennelong & Phillip: A History Unravelled by Kate Fullagar Highly Commended: Helena Rubinstein: The Australian Years by Angus Trumble
Children's Self-published Winner: That Book About Space Stuff by David Conley Highly Commended: Phoenix and Ralph by Barbie Robinson, ill. Ian Robertson
Children's Traditional PublishingWinner - PICTURE BOOK: The Turtle and the Flood by Jackie French, ill. Danny Snell Winner - NONFICTION: Wildlife Compendium of the World by Tania McCartney Winner - OLDER READERS: We Didn't Think It Through by Gary Lonesborough Highly Commended: Neil the Amazing Sea Cucumber by Amelia McInerney, ill. Lucinda Gifford Highly Commended: Phonobet by Kathy Weeden, ill. Kim Drane Highly Commended: Surprise at the End of Onkaparinga Lane by Rhian Williams, ill. Martina Heiduczek
Poetry Traditional PublishingWinner: The Moon the Bone: Selected Poems 1986-2022 by Tim Metcalf Highly Commended: Meaty Bones by K A Nelson Highly Commended: Apostles of Anarchy by Sandra Renew
The MARION Overall Special Book Award 2023
  • Winner: Whitefella Yella Tree by Dylan Van Den Berg
The June Shenfield Poetry AwardFirst Place: Cate Furey, Momentum Second Place: Lucinda Ferguson, Wasabi Peas Third Place: Hayden William, Now Who Let These Thoughts In?
The Anne Edgeworth Fellowship for Emerging WritersJoint Award Winners: Jemima Parker and Gill Watson
The Marion Halligan Award Sleeplessness by Paul Hetherington
Marion Fellowship Award 24/25 awarded to'' Callie Scott-Doyle
JUDGES 2024 - Fiction: Beejay Silcox. Nonfiction: Frank Bongiorno. Poetry: Dr Paul Collis. Children's Book: Krys Saclier. The June Shenfield Poetry Award: Dan Hogan.

2023 AWARDS

Fiction Small PressWinner: Then Eve by Tanya Davies
Fiction Big PressWinner: The Tilt by Chris Hammer
NonFiction Small PressWinner: Neither King nor Saint by Helen Topor
NonFiction Big PressWinner: The Glass Cricket Ball by Jan Williams Smith Highly Commended: Legitimate Sexpectations by Katrina Marson
Children's Small PressWinner: Charles the Gallery Dog by Barbie Robinson, ill. Ian Robertson
Children's Big PressWinner: Diary of a Rescued Wombat: The untold story by Jackie French, ill. Bruce Whatley Highly Commended: Swifty the Super-Fast Parrot by Stephanie Owen Reeder, ill. Astred Hicks Highly Commended: Seree's Story by Irma Gold, ill. Wayne Harris
Poetry Small PressWinner: Translating Loss: A haiku collection by Maurice Nevile
Poetry Big PressWinner: Beloved by Penelope Layland Highly Commended: Waterlines by Peter Ramm
The MARION Overall Special Book Award 2023
  • Winner: Whitefella Yella Tree by Dylan Van Den Berg
The June Shenfield Poetry AwardFirst Place: Rhian Healy
  • Second Place: Alana Kelsall
  • Third Place: Rebecca Fleming
The Anne Edgeworth Fellowship for Emerging WritersLinda Chen
Marion Fellowship Award 23/24 awarded to Maya Hodge
JUDGES 2023 - Fiction: Lucy Neave. Nonfiction: Jessica Friedmann. Poetry: Subhash Jaireth. Children's Book: Anna Branford. The June Shenfield Poetry Award: Paul Hetherington.

2022 AWARDS

Fiction Small PressWinner: Everything I Am by Jenny Bond Highly Commended: Dear Ibis by Kate Liston-Mills
Fiction Big PressWinner: Milk by Dylan van den Berg
NonFiction Small PressWinner: Coolamon Girl by Dianne Lucas
NonFiction Big PressWinner: Summertime by Danielle Celermajer
Children's Small PressWinner: Where the Heart Is by Irma Gold, ill. Susannah Crispe Highly Commended: All Dogs Bark by Catherine Meatheringham and Deb Hudson
Children's Big PressWinner: The Last Dragon by Charles Massy, ill. Mandy Foot Highly Commended: Wiradjuri Country by Larry Brandy
Poetry Small PressWinner: It's the Sugar, Sugar by Sandra Renew Highly Commended: Text/ure by Sarah Rice Highly Commended: Chalk Borders by Sarah St Vincent Welch
Poetry Big PressWinner: The Wear of My Face by Lizz Murphy
The ACT Writers Overall Special Book Award 2022
  • Winner: Killernova by Omar Musa
  • Winner: The Wear of My Face by Lizz Murphy
The June Shenfield Poetry AwardFirst Place: If I Put It In A Poem by Rosa O’Kane
  • Second Place: In the Oxford book of ballads by Andrew Spiker
  • Third Place: Armillaris by Claire Miranda Roberts
The Anne Edgeworth Fellowship for Emerging WritersJoint Awards Winners: Julia Faragher and Samantha Tidy
JUDGES 2022 - Fiction: Robyn Cadwallader, Shelley Burr. Nonfiction: Nicole Moore, Ginger Gorman. Poetry: Lucy Alexander, Samia Goudie. Children's: Tracey Hawkins, David Conley. The Marjorie Graber-McInnis Short Story Award, Beatrice Smith.

2021 AWARDS

Fiction Small PressWinner: Neon Leviathan by TR Napper
  • Highly Commended: The Philosopher's Daughters by Alison Booth
Fiction Big PressWinner: Desire Lines by Felicity Volk
NonFiction Small PressWinner: Pandemic: The Spanish Flu in Australia 1918-1920 by Ian W. Shaw
  • Highly Commended: The Philosopher's Daughters by Alison Booth
NonFiction Big PressWinner: Radio Girl: The Story of the Extraordinary Mrs Mac, Pioneering Engineer and Wartime Legend by David Dufty
Children's Small PressWinner: Vote for Me by Krys Saclier, ill. Cathy Wilcox
  • Highly Commended: Feathers by Karen Hendriks, ill. Kim Fleming
Children's Big PressWinner: Hold On! Saving the Spotted Handfish by Gina Newton, ill. Rachel Tribout
  • Highly Commended: Australia's Wild Weird Wonderful Weather by Stephanie Owen Reeder, ill. Tania McCartney
Poetry Small PressWinner: Nigh by Penelope Layland
  • Highly Commended: Utterly by PS Cottier
Poetry Big Press
  • not awarded
The ACT Writers Overall Book Award 2021
JUDGES 2021 - Fiction: Robyn Cadwallader, Shelley Burr. Nonfiction: Nicole Moore, Ginger Gorman. Poetry: Lucy Alexander, Samia Goudie. Children's Book: Tracey Hawkins, David Conley. The Marjorie Graber-McInnis Short Story Award: Beatrice Smith.

2020 AWARDS

FictionWinner: The Light Bearer by Andrew Einspruch
  • Highly Commended: A Tale of Stars and Shadow by Lisa Cassidy
  • Highly Commended: How Not To Acquire A Castle by Amy Laurens
  • Highly Commended: Into Bones like Oil by Kaaron Warren
NonfictionWinner: Bandit Saints of Java by George Quinn
  • Highly Commended: Out of Order by Rob Donnelly
  • Highly Commended: Families in the Digital Age by Toni Hassan
Children'sWinner: Fauna: Australia's Most Curious Creatures by Tania McCartney
  • Highly Commended: Leaping Lola by Tracey Hawkins and Anil Tortop
PoetryWinner: Acting Like a Girl by Sandra Renew
  • Highly Commended: blur by the by Cham Zhi Yi
  • Highly Commended: Catching the Light by Suzanne Edgar
The Marjorie Graber-McInnis Short Story AwardWinner: "Bygone" by Sophie Clews
  • Highly Commended: The Navigators by Mick Donaldson
  • Highly Commended: Vertical by Ian Hart
  • Highly Commended: The Suitcase by Deborah Huff-Horwood
The June Shenfield Poetry AwardFirst Place: Part of its trunk by Elanna HerbertSecond Place: Paper Daisies by Carmel SummersThird Place: The Cleaning Woman by Carla de Goede
The Anne Edgeworth Fellowship for Young WritersWinner: Natalie Cooke
  • Winner: Emilie Morscheck
JUDGES 2020 - Fiction: Andrew Hutchinson, Leife Shallcross. Nonfiction: Helen Ennis, Patrick Mullins. Poetry: Andrew Galan, Eleanor Malbon. Children's Book: Leanne Barrett, Jacqueline de Rose-Ahern. The Marjorie Graber-McInnis Short Story Award: Beatrice Smith. The June Shenfield Poetry Award: Judith Nangala Crispin, Scott-Patrick Mitchell.

2019 AWARDS

FictionWinner: Triumviratus by Shane SmithHighly Commended: A Perfect Marriage by Alison BoothHighly Commended: After She Left by Penelope HanleyHighly Commended: Years of the Wolf by Craig Cormick
NonfictionWinner: Backseat Drivers by Craig CormickHighly Commended: Joe Baker by Angelika ErpicHighly Commended: Fire at Sea: HMAS Westralia 1998 by Kathryn Spurling
Children'sWinner: Billie by Nicole Godwin, ill. Demelsa HaughtonWinner: When Worlds Collide by Amy Laurens
PoetryWinner: Things I’ve Thought to Tell You Since I Saw You Last by Penelope LaylandHighly Commended: Inlandia by KA Nelson
The Marjorie Graber-McInnis Short Story AwardWinner: Pig Headed by Ron SchroerHighly Commended: Nobody's Home by Sophie CampbellHighly Commended: The Shearer's Wife by Elizabeth Egan
The June Shenfield Poetry AwardWinner: Satan's Brew by Riahta RanfordHighly Commended: Last Lights On the Great Divide by Simone KingHighly Commended: Keeping My Wits About Me by Rosalind Moran
The Anne Edgeworth Fellowship for Emerging Writers
  • Awarded to Kellie NissenShortlisted: Simone King, Rebekka Leary, Gemma Nethercote Way
JUDGES 2019 - Fiction: Kaaron Warren, Margaret Innes. Nonfiction: Amy Walters, Peter Papathansiou. Poetry: Hazel Hall, Merlinda Bobis. Children's Book: Tania McCartney, Jacqueline de Rose-Ahern. The Marjorie Graber-McInnis Short Story Award: Beatrice Smith. The June Shenfield Poetry Award: Lucy Alexander.

2018 AWARDS

FictionWinner: Paper Cuts: Comedic and satirical monologues for audition or performance by Kirsty Budding
NonfictionWinner: Verity by Robert Lehane
Children'sWinner: Trouble in Tune Town by Maura Pierlot
PoetryWinner: A Constellation of Abnormalities by Paul Cliff
The Marjorie Graber-McInnis Short Story AwardWinner: Loyal Animals by Amanda McLeod
The June Shenfield Poetry AwardWinner: Incursion, Extinctions by Natalie Cooke
The Anne Edgeworth Fellowship for Young Writers
  • '''Winner: Gemma Killen'''

2017 AWARDS

FictionWinner: The Grief Hole by Kaaron WarrenHighly Commended: All the King's Men by Shane W. SmithHighly Commended: Fabel by Tom Heffernan
Children'sWinner: Amazing Animals of Australia's National Parks by Gina NewtonHighly Commended: Australia Illustrated by Tania McCartney
June Shenfield Poetry AwardWinner: third daughter by Penny O'HaraWinner: Recycling by Ella JefferyHighly Commended: The Uses of a Shark by Damen O'Brien
Marjorie Graber-McInnis Short Story AwardWinner: 273 by Cherisse KellyHighly Commended: The Secret Moons by Frances SeymourHighly Commended: Intersection by James Salvage
Anne Edgeworth FellowshipWinner: Jemimah CooperWinner: Jacqueline de Rose-AhernHighly Commended: Ellen HarveyHighly Commended: Kathryn Hind

2016 AWARDS

FictionWinner: Cranky Ladies of History edited by Tansy Rayner Roberts, Tehani WesselyHighly Commended: Olmec Obituary by L.J.M. OwenHighly Commended: Undad by Shane W. Smith
NonfictionWinner: Building a City: CS Daley and the Story of Canberra by Jennifer HorsfieldHighly Commended: Paths into Inner Canberra by P.S. CottierHighly Commended: Australian Predators of the Sky by Penny OlsenHighly Commended: Weekend Warriors: A Funny Side by James Sanderson
Children'sWinner: Horace the Baker's Horse by Jackie French, ill. Peter BrayHighly Commended: Lennie the Legend: Solo to Sydney by Pony by Stephanie Owen ReederHighly Commended: This is Captain Cook by Tania McCartney, illustrated by Christina Booth
PoetryWinner: Deep in the Valley of Tea Bowls by Kathy KituaiHighly Commended: Ripples Under the Skin by Janette Pieloor
The Marjorie Graber-McInnis Short Story Award Winner: Sandman by Ron Schroer
  • Second Place: Roadwork Ahead by Greg Burgess
  • Highly Commended: Fight or Flight by Isabelo Gacusan
  • Highly Commended: The Abject Redemption of Athalie Roche by Erin Prothero
The June Shenfield Poetry AwardWinner: Ghost by Hessom Razavi
  • Second Place: Tumbleweed by Daniel Hutley
  • Second Place: White Lilac by Saaro Umar
  • Highly Commended: brontebright by Samuel Guthrie
  • Highly Commended: My Grandmother's Language by Nadia Niaz
  • Highly Commended: The Lumber Room by Stephen Smithyman
The Anne Edgeworth Fellowship for Young WritersWinner: Rosanna Stevens
  • Shortlisted: Shu-Ling Chua
  • Shortlisted: Grace Finlayson
  • Shortlisted: Leearni Hamilton
JUDGES 2016 - Fiction: Karen Viggers, Craig Cormick. Nonfiction: Biff Ward, Kristen Alexander. Poetry: Geoff Page, Andrew Galan. Children's: Tracey Hawkins, K.J. Taylor. The Marjorie Graber-McInnis Short Story Award: Kaaron Warren. The June Shenfield Poetry Award: Jenni Kemarre Martiniello, Ann Shenfield, Holly Zhangthe

2015 AWARDS

Marjorie Graber-McInnis Short Story Award Winner: Torvald's Year by C.H. PearceHighly Commended: Frozen Stiff by Elizabeth EganHighly Commended: Now and Then by Jennifer Hand
Michael Thwaites Poetry Award Winner: Ode to a Papermate Inkjoy 100 by Penny O'HaraHighly Commended: Winter evening on the Monaro by Laurence AndersonHighly Commended: Action by Sarah RiceHighly Commended: Memorabilia by Michelle Brock
Z4 Review Writing AwardWinner: Excavate by Shu-Ling Chua
Publishing Awards: Fiction CategoryWinner: Uncle Adolf by Craig CormickHighly Commended: Capital Yarns by Sean Costello
Publishing Awards: Nonfiction CategoryWinner: Australia's Few and the Battle of Britain by Kristen AlexanderHighly Commended: The Pearl King by Robert Lehane
Publishing Awards: Children's Fiction CategoryWinner: Midnight Burial by Pauline DeevesHighly Commended: Tottie and Dot by Tania McCartney
Publishing Awards: Poetry CategoryWinner: Fire in the Afternoon by John StokesHighly Commended: The Stars Like Sand: Australian Speculative Poetry by P. S. Cottier and Tim Jones
Anne Edgeworth Fellowship for Young Writers
  • '''Winner: Louis Klee'''

2014 AWARDS

Marjorie Graber-McInnis Short Story Award Winner: A White Woman in Ōjin by Ashley ThomsonHighly Commended:
  • * Hooking In by Christine Kearney
  • * The Loose Thread and the Sterile Needles by Cara Lennon
  • * The Garden House by Alison O’Hara
Michael Thwaites Poetry AwardWinner: Stilettos by Robyn LanceHighly Commended: Calling me in by Susan McGrath, Jack and Jill by Gregory A Gould, Implausible Birds by Kavya Robinson
Nonfiction Book CategoryWinner: 18 Days – Al Jazeera English and the Egyptian Revolution by Scott BridgesHighly Commended:
  • * Meat Pies and Mumbling Blokes – A Canberra Memoir by Margitta Acker
  • * Australian Eagles: Australians in the Battle of Britain by Kristen Alexander
Fiction Book CategoryWinner: The Happiness Jar by Samantha TidyHighly Commended: Round and Round by Jordan Morris
Poetry Book CategoryWinner: The Petrov Poems by Lesley LebkowiczHighly Commended:
  • * Improving the News by Geoff Page
  • * Drag down to unlock or place an emergency call by Melinda Smith
  • * Extravagance by Irene Wilkie
Children's Book CategoryWinner: An Aussie Year by Tania McCartneyHighly Commended:
  • * The Very Sad Fish-lady by Joy McDonald
  • * A Lion, a Whale and a Flea by Maree Teychenne
Anne Edgeworth Fellowship for Young ACT WritersWinners: Zoya Patel and '''Lisa Fuller'''

2013 AWARDS

Marjorie Graber-McInnis Short Story AwardWinner: This Square Called a Ring by Monica CarrollHighly Commended:
  • * Breath by Michelle Brock
  • * Feather-light by Claire Delahunty
Michael Thwaites Poetry AwardWinner: Ode to a Toothbrush by Penny O'HaraHighly Commended:
  • * After Nights by Claire Delahunty
  • * An Untimely Death by Rebecca Fleming
Nonfiction Book CategoryWinner: Canberry Tales: An Informal History by G.A. MawerHighly Commended: Leaving the Rest Behind: An Immigrant's Story by Ann Nugent
Fiction Book CategoryWinner: Through Splintered Walls by Kaaron WarrenHighly Commended:
  • * I'm Ready Now by Nigel Featherstone
  • * Provocation by Donald McMaster
Poetry Book CategoryWinner: First...Then... by Melinda SmithHighly Commended:
  • * The Love Procession by Suzanne Edgar
  • * In Country by Leon Trainor
Children's Book CategoryCo-winner: Sarah's Song by Tanya DaviesCo-winner: My Aunt Ate a Plate by Maree Teychenne
Z4 Award for book reviewsWinner: Duncan Driver's review of Martin Amis's novel Lionel Asbo: State of England
Anne Edgeworth Fellowship for Young ACT WritersBrian Obiri-Asare to produce his play ''In Between the Solitude of Sunburnt Islands''

2012 AWARDS

Marjorie Graber-McInnis Short Story Award Winner: Paper Cranes by Rachael RipponHighly Commended: Fiona Hamer
Michael Thwaites Poetry Award Winner: Isi UnikowskiHighly Commended: Monica Carroll
Children's Book categoryWinner: Tracey Hawkins
Nonfiction Book categoryWinner: Irma GoldHighly Commended: Ann VilliersHighly Commended: Alan Foskett
Fiction Book CategoryWinner: Nigel FeatherstoneHighly Commended: Irma GoldHighly Commended: Elizabeth Egan
Poetry Book CategoryWinner: Michael Byrne
Z4 Award for book reviews
  • '''Winner: Colin Steele'''

2011 AWARDS

  • Nonfiction – Who Lied? The Ly-ee-moon Disaster and a Question of Truth by Graeme Barrow
  • Fiction – Dead Sea Fruit by Kaaron Warren
  • Poetry – A Man of Emails by Michael Byrne
  • Children's –
  • Short story – The Day for Travelling by '''Robyn Cadwallader'''

2010 AWARDS

  • Nonfiction – Capital Sailing: The history of the Canberra Yacht Club 1959–2009 by Alan Foskett
  • Fiction – Hornet Bank by Gordon Reid
  • Poetry – Before Afterwards by Leon Trainor
  • Children's –
  • Short story – "Acts of Kindness" by '''Jennifer Shapcott'''

2009 AWARDS

  • Nonfiction – The Campbell Community by Alan Foskett
  • Fiction – Smoke and Mirrors by Kel Robertson
  • Poetry – Sleeping Alone by Michael Thorley
  • Children's – Butterscotch: Family and Friends by William Nevin Morison & Rebecca Dempsey
  • Marjorie Graber-McInnis Short Story Award – Basant by '''Maryanne Khan'''

2008 AWARDS

  • Nonfiction – Rainbow by Jennifer Horsfield
  • Fiction – Not a Flotation Device by Peter Frankis
  • Poetry – Migrant writer on a bus, thinking of Kundera by Danijela Kambaskovic-Sawers 'Andy Jackson'
  • Children's –

2007 AWARDS

  • Nonfiction – Men at Birth by David Vernon
  • Fiction – Ghosts in the Helmet Trees by Rory Steele
  • Poetry – Verbal Medicine by Tim Metcalf
  • Children's – Secrets by '''Stephen Matthews'''

2006 AWARDS

  • Nonfiction – Unlocking History's Secrets by Graeme Barrow and Australian Speculative Fiction: A Genre Overview by Donna Maree Hanson
  • Fiction – The Grinding House by Kaaron Warren
  • Poetry – Southbound by Michael Byrne
  • Children's – Not Awarded

2005 AWARDS

  • Nonfiction – Days of Innocents edited by Hilary Trotter
  • Fiction – Trouble in the Garden by Peter Frankis
  • Poetry – Unfinished Journey by Michael Thwaites
  • Children's – The Year of the Mean Queen by Graeme Hume and '''Caroline Ambrus'''

2004 AWARDS

  • Nonfiction – Huts in the Victorian Alps by Klaus Hueneke
  • Fiction – You by Narelle Wickham
  • Poetry – Indigo Book of Modern Australian Sonnets by '''Geoff Page'''