Premier announces winners of 2008 and 2009 Book Awards

Premier Colin Barnett tonight announced the winners of the 2008 and 2009 Western Australian Premier's Book Awards.

"For the first time these awards were broadened to allow all Australian writers to enter, and I was very pleased to see many of the winning interstate authors attend the presentation," Mr Barnett said.

"The increased profile and greater prestige of the awards allows Western Australian authors to be judged on the national stage, and I was delighted that local authors were successful in several genres."

Record entries had been submitted following the announcement earlier this year of the widening of the eligibility criteria and increased prize money, with 404 entries in the 2009 awards, and 300 for the 2008 awards.

The chair of the 2009 judging panel Dr Lucy Dougan said the judges were impressed with the high calibre of entries.  

"The high standard of entries posed some challenging decisions for the judges, who displayed integrity and professionalism in making some very difficult decisions," Dr Dougan said.

"It is wonderful to see these prizes going national; this can only strengthen and enhance writing in WA."

The 2008 Premier's Prize of $25,000 was won by Chloe Hooper for 'The Tall Man', which was the winner of the $15,000 non-fiction category.

The 2009 Premier's Prize of $25,000 was awarded to Shirley Barrett for 'South Solitary', which won the $10,000 scripts category. 

The 2008 judging panel comprised Dr Wendy Were (chair), Frank Palmos, Dr Rose Lucas, Carmel Ballinger, Prof Keith Morris and Beverley Jacobson.

The 2009 judging panel comprised Dr Lucy Dougan (chair), Claire Renner, Prof John Tonkin, Dr Shalmalee Palekar, Tehani Wessely and Frank Palmos.

The lists of category winners are attached.