University of Queensland Press authors recognised in prestigious literary awards

The Darumbal and South Sea Islander journalist and academic won the Queensland Premier’s Award for her collection of powerful essays calling out the media’s failings in reporting Indigenous affairs while showing how Black journalism can pave the way for equality and justice.

Dr McQuire was one of 5 UQP authors recognised at the recent Queensland Literary Awards and Prime Minister’s Literary Awards.

She was joined by children’s book author Sandy Bigna and short fiction author Laura Elvery as winners at the Queensland awards, and children’s author Peter Carnavas and poet David Brooks who took out categories at the national awards.

Professor Heather Zwicker, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, congratulated the authors.

“UQP enhances The University of Queensland’s reputation for excellence at every turn, with some of the best storytellers in the country,” she said.

“I am particularly pleased at the range of prizes UQP picked up during recent literary awards.

“UQP won prizes for fiction, poetry, nonfiction and children’s writing – by 2 different authors. This speaks to excellence across the range of UQP’s catalogue.

“Books connect Australians from diverse backgrounds, promoting tolerance, understanding, learning and respect.

“What’s especially noteworthy about UQP’s literary awards this season is how many audiences we reach.

“I am incredibly proud of UQP. It has a great eye for talent and a reputation for fostering that talent from early idea to published book.

“At every stage, there’s a real sense that this book, and the author behind it, is a winner. It’s just great to see that recognised nationally.”

Author Sandy Bigna won the state Children’s Book Award for Little Bones, a heartwarming verse novel about friendship and the collecting of small, intriguing objects; and Laura Elvery took out The Courier-Mail People’s Choice Queensland Book of the Year Award for Nightingale that is part historical-fiction, part ghost story.

Children’s author Peter Carnavas won the Prime Minister’s Literary Award for Leo and Ralph, a story about space and friendship, while author David Brooks won the poetry category for The Other Side of Daylight.