Winners of the 2014 Ned Kelly Awards presented at the Brisbane Writers Festival on Saturday, 6 September 2014. From L–R: Emma Viskic, John Safran, Candice Fox, and Adrian McKinty. Photo by Rachel Amphlett.
Watchwords
THE NED KELLY AWARDS
The Ned Kelly Awards are run by the Australian Crime Writers Association (ACWA) and are Australia’s oldest and most prestigious prizes awarded to honour the country’s best crime fiction
and true crime writing.
THE PEN IS MIGHTIER!
‘Every
murderer is probably somebody's old friend’ – Agatha Christie.
WHAT ARE THEY?
‘The Neds’, as they are sometimes known, were born in 1995 after a very long lunch, when a group
of crime writers, academics, publishers and journalists decided that recognition of crime writing in Australia was long overdue – and what better name to give the awards than that of the nation’s most infamous villain.
Since their inception the Ned Kelly Awards have grown in importance and recognition, with winners being enthusiastically announced on major crime websites, blogs and in mystery magazines around the world. Previous
winners include such luminaries as Peter Temple, Shane Maloney, Gabrielle Lord, Garry Disher and Kerry Greenwood.
The award categories are Best Fiction, Best First Fiction,
True Crime and the Sandra Harvey Short Story Award. For the purposes of the awards, the definition of a ‘work’ is a novel, short story or non-fiction book. For a writer to be eligible, he or she must be an Australian by birth or citizenship; OR be
an author whose principal residence is in Australia.
With the support of ACWA members, the generosity of various publishers, and grants received from the Copyright Agency,
the ACWA is determined to make the Ned Kelly Awards a highlight of the Australian publishing and literary calendar.
Best Fiction
THE AWARD: This award is for the best crime novel by an Australian author
first published during the Judging Period. The broadest definition of the crime novel defines eligible books to include thrillers, suspense novels and spy fiction.
Best First Fiction
THE AWARD: This award is for the best debut crime novel by an Australian author first published
in the Judging Period. The broadest definition of the crime novel defines eligible books that are set in any period and includes, but is not limited to, spy fiction and/or action/adventure stories/thrillers/mysteries.
True Crime
THE AWARD: This award is for any non-fiction
work on a crime-related theme by an Australian author first published in the Judging Period. This award encompasses, but is not limited to, non-fiction works relating to true crime, historical crime, crime-related biography, autobiography and crime-fiction
guides.
The Sandra Harvey Short Story Award
THE AWARD: The award was established in honour of the late writer and journalist Sandra Harvey, and recognises the importance of the short story form in Australian crime writing.
WHERE CAN YOU SEE WHO WON WHAT, WHERE?
PETER LAWRANCE, the long-time convener and organiser of the Ned Kelly Awards, describes them thusly: ‘The awards have always been about entertainment as well as celebrating talent,
which is why they have come to represent the benchmark in Australian crime writing and revealed the vast pool of talent at work in this country...
'The award winners are
announced on major crime websites, blogs and in mystery magazines around the world. This is gratifying for the many people who conceived, organised and worked towards the ongoing success of the Ned Kelly Awards.'
And, of course, you can get a full run-down on the winners and their books on the Australian Crime Writers Association (ACWA) website at http://www.austcrimewriters.com.
Ned Kelly Awards P2
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