Congratulations to the 2008 shortlisted authors:

Natasha Lester for What is Left Over, After
Bill Powell for Promises
Karen Williams for The Beach House

The 2009 winner was Natasha Lester. Her novel is scheduled for release in September 2010.

About the Award
Fremantle Press is a co-sponsor of the T A G Hungerford Award for Fiction and publishes the winning manuscript. Established in 1988 the award honours West Australian author T A G Hungerford for his outstanding contribution to literature. The Award is made biennially for an unpublished manuscript by a West Australian author who has not previously published a work of fiction in book form. Along with Fremantle Press, the award is sponsored by The West Australian, New Edition Bookshop in Fremantle and writingWA. Contact writingWA for more information.

The 2007 T A G Hungerford Award winner was Alice Nelson for The Last Sky.

What did it feel like to win the T A G Hungerford Award?

It was an incredible honour to win the T A G Hungerford Award. It puts me in great company – it’s an award that really launched the careers of some WA writers I admire greatly; Brenda Walker, Gail Jones, Simone Lazaroo.

What is the significance of the award for new authors?

The T A G Hungerford Award is an outstanding initiative for discovering new talent and helping to launch the careers of WA writers. It’s a hugely prestigious award that is recognised across the country. Writing is a tough field, and awards like this are just so vital to the industry.

Why was it of benefit to you?

It was a huge affirmation of my work and, in practical terms, helped to launch my writing career through a publishing contract with Fremantle Press.