The Richell Prize Judging Panel

The Richell Prize Judging Panel

Hachette Australia, along with the Richell family, and with partners The Guardian Australia and The Emerging Writers Festival (EWF), is honoured to announce that in the inaugural year of The Richell Prize for Emerging Writers, they have received an incredible response to the call for entries. In total 975 entries have been received, across fiction and narrative non-fiction, from a diverse range of emerging Australian talent.

We are also now thrilled to announce the judging panel for the Prize.
Hannah Richell - Matt's widow and author of Secrets of the Tides and The Shadow Year
Megan O'Brien – Potts Point Bookshop
Sam Twyford-Moore – outgoing Creative Director of The Emerging Writers Festival (chair)
Nancy Groves – Culture Editor, The Guardian Australia
Robert Watkins – Publisher, Hachette Australia

The exciting task of reading the entries is now underway and the shortlist will be announced on 21 September. The winner will be announced in Sydney at a special event on 29 October.
Fiona Hazard, Publishing Director of Hachette Australia, said: -We are absolutely delighted with the response to the Prize. Matt Richell's passion for and support of emerging writers was undeniable and it's a testament to his memory that the prize has been supported so successfully'.

Hannah Richell said: -I'm so grateful to all the writers who have seized this opportunity and submitted their work to the Richell Prize. It's going to be a thrilling yet difficult task for us to select just one bright new talent from amongst the pack'.

Sam Twyford-Moore of the Emerging Writers Festival said: -A huge thank you to all writers who have put so much time and thought into their applications. We are looking forward to discovering so many brilliant new unheard voices with our partners over the coming weeks'.

Nancy Groves, Culture Editor of The Guardian Australia said: -We hear from emerging writers every day but I'm still overwhelmed by the response to the inaugural Richell Prize – a fitting tribute to Matt's enthusiasm for new writing. What a treat it's going to be to read through the entries, even if narrowing them down to a winner might be the hardest edit I've done all year.'

For further information about the Richell Prize, please see www.emergingwritersfestival.org.au and www.hachette.com.au.