This year’s Stella Prize long-list has been announced, with 12 titles making up “an exceptionally strong year,” according to the judges.
More than 220 books were in the running, spanning genres, subject areas and timelines.
“Australian women and non-binary writers are producing innovative, sophisticated literature in very difficult times,” Melissa Lucashenko, Chair of the 2022 Stella Prize Judges said.
“It has been a great privilege to read and assess their work. Many authors focussed on global affairs rather than on the Antipodean alone; much of the short fiction and poetry we read was set offshore, and at least two of the long-listed authors are Australian expatriates. So much for Fortress Australia.”
For the first time ever, poetry collections were included in the prize selection, with 38 of the 227 entries being books of poetry.
The long-list was announced last night at the Wheeler Centre in Melbourne, and was attended by judges Cate Kennedy, Sisonke Msimang, Declan Fry and Oliver Reeson.
The Stella Longlist:
Non-fiction:
Coming of Age in the War on Terror by Randa Abdel-Fattah (NewSouth Books)
No Document by Anwen Crawford (Giramondo Publishing)
Another Day in the Colony by Chelsea Watego (University of Queensland Press)
Poetry:
TAKE CARE by Eunice Andrada (Giramondo Publishing)
Dropbear by Evelyn Araluen (University of Queensland Press)
Homecomingby Elfie Shiosaki (Magabala Books)The Openby Lucy Van (Cordite Books)
Fiction:
She Is Haunted by Paige Clark (Allen & Unwin)
Bodies of Light by Jennifer Down (Text Publishing)
Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray by Anita Heiss (Simon & Schuster)
Permafrost by SJ Norman (University of Queensland Press)
Graphic Novel:
Stone Fruit by Lee Lai (Fantagraphics)