Submitted by Carmel on 11 November 2014 – 7:14pm
Twenty-seven short stories by 23 women authors vie for Sisters in Crime Australia’s 21stScarlet Stiletto Awards to be presented by Marta Dusseldorp, star of Janet King andCrownies, at a gala dinner,6.30pm, Friday 21 November at Melbourne’s Thornbury Theatre.
This year a record 207 short stories competed for awards offering a record $8,800 in prize money plus the coveted Scarlet Stiletto trophy for the overall winner.
The authors under contention are: Loren Auder (Qld); Judith Bridge (WA); Bridey Carmel (Vic); Natalie Conyer (NSW); Vicky Daddo (Vic); Beatrice David (NSW); Fiona Drury (Vic); Kylie Fox (Vic); Suzanne Frankham (Vic); Jane Lee (NSW); Katie Mills (WA); Mary-Ellen Mullane (NSW); Melanie Myers (Qld); Julianne Negri (Vic); JM Peace (Qld); Cheryl Rogers (WA); Fin J Ross (Vic); Richenda Rudman (Vic); Angela Savage (Vic); Anna Snoekstra (Vic); Frances Sutherland (Vic); Hannah Van Didden (WA); and Sandi Wallace (Vic).
Judges’ spokesperson, Michaela Lobb, said that the murderous impulses harboured by Australian women had never been so evident nor so inspiring.
“The record number of short stories comes hot on the heels of the record 76 crime books in contention for this year’s Davitt Awards. We are witnessing an explosion of talent and ideas in women’s crime writing in this country,” Lobb said.
“As always, there were quite a few stories where women kill men, usually their husbands, for often surprising reasons but this time they were counterbalanced by a surge of stories entered in the “Body in the Library’ category and the new category, Best ‘Story with a Disabled Protagonist’. We were buoyed by the quality of the writing.”
To date, 2,735 stories have been entered with 18 Scarlet Stiletto Award winners. Many Scarlet Stiletto and other category winners have gone on to have novels published: Cate Kennedy, Tara Moss, Angela Savage, Josephine Pennicott, Ellie Marney, Sara Evans, Inga Simpson, Alex Palmer, Liz Filleul, Margaret Bevege, Patricia Bernard, Bronwen Blake, Jo McGahey, Cheryl Jorgensen, Kylie Fox, Simmone Howell, Sandi Wallace and Amanda Wrangles.
At 8pm, prior to the award presentations, Dusseldorp will discuss her ‘life in crime’ (and much more) with crime author Leigh Redhead.
Dusseldorp’s criminal past includes the critically acclaimed Janet King and its predecessor Crownies (ABC), three telemovies opposite Guy Pearce in Jack Irish and the six-part Blackjack telemovies opposite Colin Friels. Other key television roles include two seasons as Sarah Adams in A Place To Call Home (Seven Network); Devil’s Dust, the award-winning mini-series After the Deluge; and Hell Has Harbour Views. Click here for info.
Leigh Redhead is the author of the award winning Simone Kirsch private eye series. She has also contributed a chapter to the compilationIf I Tell You…I’ll Have To Kill You: Australia’s Leading Crime Writers Reveal Their Secrets (Allen and Unwin). Click herefor info.
Venue: Thornbury Theatre, 859 High Street, Thornbury
Sit-down dinner: $60 ($35 concession for shortlisted authors). Drinks available at bar prices. Men or ‘Brothers in Law’ welcome.
Seats only (no dinner) from 8pm:$15 (no concession)
Bookings close Monday 17 November. Book individually or in tables of up to 10 or a seat only(without meal).
Further information:Michaela Lobb 0409 431 397 or via email
Book stall: 10% discount for members from the Sun Bookshop stall.
Prizes kindly sponsored by HarperCollins; Pantera Press; Sun Bookshop, Athenaeum Library; Allen & Unwin; Arena Magazine; Clan Destine Press; Scriptworks; Benn’s Book Shop; Ann Byrne; Kerry Greenwood; Catherine Leppert; Josephine Pennicott; and the Queensland Chapter of Sisters in Crime. The awards are also supported by Spinifex Press.
Comment: Michaela Lobb 0409 431 397
Info: Carmel Shute, Sisters in Crime, National Co-convenor, Sisters in Crime: 0412 569 356; email