UQP announces winners of Mentorship Prize for under-represented writers

Suri Matondkar and SD Munawara were selected from a shortlist of 5 talented and diverse authors from across Australia.

Ms Matondkar is a writer and doctoral student interested in language and identity whose memoir-style essays are filled with wit and anger.

Her non-fiction work, Tongue: Essays on language, identity and being an international student in Australia, illustrates her personal experience as a student from India.

Ms Matondkar said she was overjoyed to be one of the first recipients of the prize.

“While I love these essays, I did not think they'd make it this far,” she said.

“To get them in front of a publisher like UQP was so massive, but to be chosen as a winner is absolutely wild.

“All my gratitude to the judging panel for this lovely opportunity – I’m so hopeful and excited for what it may bring.”

SD Munawara is a Somali-Australian writer whose fiction work focusses on faith, community and the everyday practice of Islam in Australia.

Her fiction piece, Those Who Believe, offers a wry, vivid and playful exploration of both the allure and vagaries of faith and belief.

“I feel invigorated by this opportunity, and more equipped than ever to shape my manuscript into the book I want it to be,” Ms Munawara said.

“My writing has been a largely solitary journey, but thanks to this incredibly comprehensive prize I have so much support to look forward to in the coming year.

"I could not be more grateful.”

The prize was judged by Miles Franklin Literary Award Winner Siang Lu, acclaimed author, journalist and academic Sarah Malik and UQP Director of Publishing Madonna Duffy.

Ms Duffy said Ms Matondkar and Ms Munawara’s submissions stood out among a broad list of impressive entries.

“The two recipients submitted work that announced them as serious writing talents, prepared to take risks with style, form and story,” she said.

“We are looking forward to working with them both to progress their distinctive works.”  

Both winners will undergo a residency at UQP, where they will receive mentoring from an award-winning author and undergo professional development in marketing, publicity, rights and sales.

A final manuscript of their submitted work will also be taken into consideration by a UQP publisher.