Strong Nonfiction Field for WA Book Awards
Western Australia’s Culture and the Arts Minister John Day announced the shortlists for the 2011 Western Australian Premier’s Book Awards on 5 July 2012. Almost 600 entries were received for a total of eight award categories.
Competition in the nonfiction category was so fierce that the judges took the unusual step of nominating four highly commended works in addition to the six shortlisted titles. Books on the nonfiction shortlist include Alice Pung’s Her Father’s Daughter, Benjamin Gilmour’s Paramedico: Around the World by Ambulance and Eileen Harrison and Carolyn Landon’s Black Swan: A Koorie Woman’s Life.
In addition to the eight awards chosen by the judging panel, there is also a People’s Choice Award. This award is chosen from among the six shortlisted fiction titles. Public voting for the People’s Choice category commences on 23 July and runs until 27 August. Winners in all categories will be announced on 20 September.
The complete shortlists for the 2011 Western Australian Premier’s Book Awards are available on the State Library of Western Australia’s website; a voting form for the People’s Choice Award will be available on this site soon.