Runner-up Michelle Peters of Molong, Judge and Millthorpe author Kim Kelly and winner Corey Tatz of Cowra.
Cabonne Women Writers has announced the winners of its fourth annual Open Writing Competition, which attracted a record 122 entries from writers across rural and regional Australia.
Corey Tatz of Cowra took first place for The Call of the Pines , with Michelle Peters of Molong receiving second place for A Certain Justice .
Highly Commended awards went to Nicole Moir, writing as Collette Night, for Here , and Alexia Hatto for The Gravity of Neon .
The awards were announced at a presentation on Saturday 7 November at the Coach House in Molong.
This year’s judge, Millthorpe-based Australian novelist, short-story writer and book editor Kim Kelly, has more than 25 years’ experience editing fiction and narrative non-fiction.
Kelly praised the quality and diversity of the entries. She described The Call of the Pines as “almost a prose poem”, recognising its lyrical writing and evocative sense of place. She praised A Certain Justice for its “beautifully crafted reflection” on motherdaughter relationships and dementia, while Here was recognised for its honest and moving exploration of motherhood.
Kelly described The Gravity of Neon as “spectacular and arresting in its language, energy, conveyance of mood”, noting its courageous depiction of a mental health episode.
The competition has grown from around 20 entries in its first year to 122 this year.
Organised by Cabonne Women Writers, it is open to writers of all genders living in rural and remote Australia, celebrating regional storytelling and providing writers with an opportunity to share their work.
The winning entries will be available through the Central West Libraries Recollect online collection: https://centralwest.recollect.net.au/