Writing and Society Research Centre authors star in Stella Award nominations

Western Sydney University's growing reputation as a national leader in literature has been highlighted with the nomination of three Writing and Society Research Centre authors for the Stella Prize.

The Stella Prize celebrates Australian women's contribution to literature, with a $50,000 prize and significant boosts to book sales and author profiles.

Nominated for the prize this year are Professor Gail Jones (A Guide to Berlin), and Doctor of Creative Arts candidates Fiona Wright (Small Acts of Disappearance) and Jen Craig (Panthers and the Museum of Fire). In further recognition, Giramondo Publishing at Western Sydney University issued Ms Wright's entry.

Also nominated is Western Sydney University graduate Mireille Juchau, who completed her PhD at the Writing and Society Research Centre, for her book The World Without Us.

The Director of the Writing and Society Research Centre, Professor Anthony Uhlmann, has praised the authors for their nominations.

"In total our writers have received a quarter of all nominations for the Stella Prize, which is an incredible result and a testament to the strength of our Centre and programs," says Professor Uhlmann.

"In the past three years the Stella Prize has grown in significance and is now an integral part of the Australian literary calendar."

"On behalf of the University I congratulate the authors and wish them the best."

About the nominations:

Panthers and the Museum of Fire by Jen Craig (Spineless Wonders) is a novella about walking, memory and writing. While the narrator walks, the reader enters her entire world: life with family and neighbours, narrow misses with cars, her singular friendships, dinner conversations and work.

A Guide to Berlin by Gail Jones (Random House) tells the story of six international travellers, two Italians, two Japanese, an American and an Australian, who meet in empty apartments in Berlin to share stories and memories. A moment of devastating violence shatters the group, and changes the direction of everyone's story.

Small Acts of Disappearance by Fiona Wright (Giramondo) is a collection of ten essays by the award winning poet. It describes the author's affliction with an eating disorder, which began in her late teens and escalated into life-threatening anorexia.

Ends

12 February 2016

Mark Smith, Senior Media Officer