2 December 2008

MARGO LANAGAN AWARDED 2008 NSW WRITER’S FELLOWSHIP

Minister Assisting the Premier on the Arts, Virginia Judge today congratulated Sydney author Margo Lanagan, who has been awarded the 2008 NSW Writer’s Fellowship.

Ms Lanagan will use the $20,000 fellowship to write a literary fantasy novel, set in colonial northern NSW.

“The Rees Government is committed to supporting our writers and encouraging the creative industries,” Ms Judge said.

“Margo Lanagan is a well-respected writer and deserving winner of this prestigious award, which will provide valuable support while she completes her novel.”

Over a 17-year career, Ms Lanagan has published novels for a diverse range of readers, including children, young people and adults.

“In addition to the 2008 NSW Writer’s Fellowship, Margo Lanagan’s impressive body of work has attracted accolades both here in Australia and internationally,” Ms Judge said.

Ms Lanagan won the 2007 Children’s Book Council of Australia Book of the Year Award (Older Readers) for Red Spikes, which was also shortlisted for the 2007 Commonwealth Writer’s Prize for Best Book (Oceanic and Asia Pacific Region).

Shortlisted three times for the NSW Premier’s Literary Awards (most recently for the Christina Stead Prize for Fiction for her work Black Juice in 2005), Ms Lanagan has also won two World Fantasy Awards.

The NSW Government offers the annual Fellowship to assist a writer living in the State to complete a new literary work. Recent recipients include Frank Moorhouse, Judith Beveridge and Alana Valentine.

The 2008 selection committee of Anne Brewster (Chair), Stephen Measday and Mark Tredinnick also commended Georgia Blain, Chris Mansell and Mandy Sayer.

Media contact: Kimberley Ramplin 02 9228 5900 / 0429 397 377