Shortlisted: "The Adventures of Vela" by Albert Wendt (Samoa)  

MEDIA RELEASE COURTESY OF: COMMONWEALTH WRITERS' PRIZE

The Commonwealth Writers’ Prize has opened for a new chapter for 12 Authors of the South East Asia and Pacific.

Internationally recognised for propelling authors into the literary spotlight, the shortlist for the regional winners from South East Asia and Pacific has been unveiled in the race to win the influential 2010 Commonwealth Writers’ Prize.

Offering an exceptional opportunity for new writers to demonstrate their talent and for authors already on the literary scene to strengthen their reputation – writers across the region - are in pole position to compete with the best authors from, Africa, Caribbean and Canada and South Asia and Europe to win the coveted prizes of the Commonwealth’s Best Book and Best First Book.

The shortlisted writers for South East Asia and Pacific Best Book are:

Summertime by J.M Coetzee (Australia)

A Good Land by Nada Awar Jarrar (Australia)

The Adventures of Vela by Albert Wendt (Samoa)

Singularity by Charlotte Grimshaw (New Zealand)

The People's Train by Thomas Keneally (Australia)

Parrot and Oliver in America by Peter Carey (Australia)

The shortlisted writers for South East Asia and Pacific Best First Book are:

The Ice Age by Kirsten Reed (Australia)

After the fire, a still small voice by Evie Wyld (Australia)

Look Who's Morphing by Tom Cho (Australia)

Document Z by Andrew Croome (Australia)

Come Inside by Glenys Osborne (Australia)

Siddon Rock by Glenda Guest (Australia)

The critically acclaimed Commonwealth Writers’ Prize is in its 24th year and has a strong track record of discovering new international stars. The winners of Best First Book and Best
Book will join some of the biggest names in fiction, including Lloyd Jones, who won the Best Book award in 2007 for his book Mister Pip.

The Prize is presented by the Commonwealth Foundation with support from the Macquarie Group Foundation. The final programme, starting on 7 April in Delhi, India will bring together the finalists from the different regions of the Commonwealth, and the two overall winners will be announced there on 12 April.

Commenting today, the Director of the Commonwealth Foundation, Mark Collins, said:
“The Commonwealth Writers’ Prize is distinct and unique in that the books that win often have strong insight, spirit and voice about the incredible diversity, history and society of the Commonwealth. The Prize aims to reward the best of Commonwealth fiction written in English and in doing so, spots rising talent and creates new literary figures from the Commonwealth. This is the Prize to watch for tomorrow’s best-sellers.”

David Clarke, Chairman of the Macquarie Group Foundation, the main sponsor of the Prize, added:

“The Commonwealth Writers’ Prize is unique in giving a voice to authors who throw light on evolving social realities. The Macquarie Group Foundation is delighted to be part of recognising literary talent from around the world and to help support emerging writers.”

Regional Chair for South East Asia and Pacific, Dr Anne Brewster:

“The high standard of books in the South East Asia and Pacific region this year ensured that the short-listing process was a challenge for the judges. The books ranged from a focus on historical themes to those whose authors explore the complexities of the contemporary world.

Some of the short-listed writers are experimenting with form – incorporating poetry, discontinuous narrative and performative modes into the traditional genre of the novel.

They explore transnational links both within the region and further afield – in Europe and North America. The judges were pleased to see small independent publishers well-represented in the short-listing, especially in the Best First Book category where they play a vital role in developing new writers.”