Debut novel earns lecturer short listing for top literary award
A University of Newcastle creative writing lecturer has been shortlisted in the prestigious 2011 Prime Minister’s Literary Awards with the judges calling his debut novel a “triumph”.
Award-winning poet Dr David Musgrave has been selected in the shortlist for the Fiction category of the awards for his first novel Glissando: A Melodrama.
The Prime Minister’s Literary Awards recognise outstanding Australian literary talent. Now in their fourth year, the awards are the richest in Australia with category winners receiving $100,000. In a first for the 2011 awards, all shortlisted authors receive a $5,000 prize.
“Being shortlisted for the Prime Minister’s Literary Award for my first novel is a great honour especially considering the talent of the other shortlisted authors and previous winners of the prizes,” Dr Musgrave said.
The Award judges have praised Dr Musgrave's “often hilarious first novel” set in the early 20th Century and tells the story of two brothers who are mistaken to be the rightful owners of a property established by their grandfather in country NSW.
The Judges said Musgrave’s satire is exuberant, inventive and incisive.
“It is a triumph in a novel of confident originality.”
Dr Musgrave teaches creative writing at both the University of Newcastle Callaghan and Central Coast campuses and is more known as a poet than fiction author.
He has won some of Australia’s most highly regarded poetry prizes including the University of Newcastle sponsored Newcastle Poetry Prize, the Somerset, the Bruce Dawe, the Broadway and the Henry Lawson poetry prizes.
“Dr Musgrave’s success is an inspiration for his students who aspire to be published writers,” said University of Newcastle Pro-Vice Chancellor Education and Arts, Professor John Germov.
“The Prime Minister’s Literary Awards are a great platform to raise the profile of up and coming and established authors. The University congratulates Dr Musgrave on his selection to the shortlist of these internationally renowned awards.”
Dr Musgrave is one of five shortlisted authors and was one of 69 entries in the Fiction category of the 2011 Prime Minister’s Literary Awards that will be announced in July.
For more information on the Prime Minister’s Literary Awards visit http://www.arts.gov.au/books/pmliteraryawards11
For interviews with Dr David Musgrave contact University of Newcastle Media and PR Officer Leonie Brann on 02 4921 6856 or 0448 898 813.