The Louie Award Fast Fiction Crime Writing Competition Opens 30 November

THE LOUIE AWARD 

Fast Fiction Crime Writing

Rev those keyboards! Entries for the Australian Crime Writers Association’s annual fast fiction crime writing competition - The Louie Award - open November 30, 2023.

The Louie Award is for fast fiction -- a story of less than 500 words. As well as being in the crime genre, each year entries must also feature or incorporate a specific theme or word. 

The theme for the 2024 award is: Artificial Intelligence (AI). We hope it inspires many plot ideas and interpretations! Entries close December 30, 2023.

The Louie Award is open to all Australian crime writers. We hope young and emerging writers particularly take this opportunity to jump into crime writing. The Award is sponsored by Dr Antonio Di Dio in celebration of his late father Luigi.  

The 2024 award the winner will receive a $500 cash prize and the two highly commended writers will receive a $125 cash prize each. All three writers will receive a certificate and their stories will be published on the Australian Crime Writers Association website and promoted through our newsletter.

The Louie Award compliments the long standing and highly recognised The Ned Kelly Awards for crime writing. The Ned Kelly Awards are Australia’s oldest and most prestigious recognition honouring crime fiction and true crime writing. The Ned Kelly Awards began in 1995 and the first award was made in 1996.

The Australian Crime Writers Association is dedicated to promoting Australian crime, thriller and mystery writing. The recent addition of The Louie Award hopes to raise even more awareness of the strength of the Australian crime writing scene and bring a new audience of readers and writers to the crime genre.

For entries and further information click here.

The winners: 2021 Ned Kelly Awards

The Australian Crime Writers Association received a huge increase in entries for this year’s Ned Kelly Awards. The Awards are an annual celebration of the best in Australian crime writing. In 2021 there were 149 entries, almost double the entries of the previous year. The entries were narrowed down to 22 books shortlisted across the four award categories; Best Crime Fiction, Best True Crime, Best Debut Crime Fiction, and Best International Crime Fiction published in Australia.

2021 BEST CRIME FICTION

The winner of the 2021 Ned Kelly Award for Best Crime Fiction is Consolation, by Garry Disher (Text).

Disher was awarded the Ned Kelly Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019 and has previously won Ned Kelly Awards for Chain of Evidence (2007) and Wyatt (2010).

The judges praised Disher’s masterly writing of place and landscape. In particular, his unsentimental portrayal of the precarious aspect of rural life and its impact on ordinary people. 

2021 BEST TRUE CRIME

The winner of the 2021 Ned Kelly Award for Best True Crime is Stalking Claremont by Bret Christian (Harper Collins).

Stalking Claremont is the story of Australia's longest-running homicide investigation by veteran newsman Bret Christian.

The judges said Stalking Claremont is a riveting story of the search for a serial killer which involved an investigation plagued by tunnel vision; devastated, brave families; lives wrecked by false accusations; and the forensic brilliance that finally saw a result.

2021 BEST DEBUT CRIME FICTION

The winner of the 2021 Ned Kelly Award for Best Debut Crime Fiction is The Second Son by Loraine Peck (Text).

The Second Son is a story of organised crime and family honour set in the western suburbs of Sydney.

The judges praised the strong character-driven plot and the realistic setting in multicultural Sydney. The intercutting of family dynamics and organised crime action brings a heightened level of both engagement and tension to The Second Son.

2021 BEST INTERNATIONAL CRIME FICTION

The winner of the 2021 Ned Kelly Award for  Best International Crime Fiction published in Australia, is We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker (Allen & Unwin).

The judges said: We Begin at the End is a complex and dark thriller which explores family, friendship and redemption. The story is driven by the character of the outlaw Duchess Ray Radley, a wise child carrying the load of generational trauma.

Australian Crime Writers Association chair Robert Goodman said once again the Ned Kelly Awards have captured the breadth and vibrancy of Australia’s crime writing scene.

‘In these difficult pandemic times, people need an escape more than ever. The sheer number of entries this year shows that crime authors are prepared to stand and deliver.’

‘The Ned Kelly Awards have always been recognised for showcasing both emerging and established Australian crime writing talent. It is wonderful to see not only that our well known authors are still delivering astounding crime writing but also the amazing depth of new talent across all award categories.’

ABOUT THE NED KELLY AWARDS

The Ned Kelly Awards are Australia’s oldest and most prestigious prizes for crime fiction and true crime writing. Established in 1996, and now in their twenty-sixth year, previous winners include: Peter Temple, Shane Maloney, Gabrielle Lord, Candice Fox, Garry Disher, Helen Garner, John Silvester, Jane Harper, and Duncan McNab.

CONTACT

Australian Crime Writers Association chair Robert Goodman

info@austcrimewriters.com

The shortlist: 2021 Ned Kelly Awards

A record number of entries in the Ned Kelly Awards for crime writing

Many Australian writers appear to have spent their Covid lockdown producing crime fiction and true crime books. This year’s Ned Kelly Awards had 149 entries, a fifty percent increase on previous years.

Australian Crime Writers Association chair Robert Goodman said the large increase in entries this year demonstrates that Australian crime writing and reading has never been stronger.

‘This is not just evident in the number of submissions but in the diversity and quality of the entries. Congratulations to all our entry authors.’

‘There are plenty of familiar names among the best crime fiction and true crime entries but also an exciting crop of new voices across all categories, particularly those in contention for the Best Debut Crime Fiction Award.’ Goodman said.

This is the second year of the Ned Kelly Awards for Best International Crime Fiction published in Australia.

‘It is exciting to recognize not only our incredible home grown talent but also some of the world’s top international crime authors,’ Goodman said.

2021 Ned Kelly Award for BEST CRIME FICTION (8)

• Consolation by Garry Disher (Text)

• Gathering Dark by Candice Fox (Penguin Random House)

• A Testament of Character by Sulari Gentill (Pantera Press)

• The Survivors by Jane Harper (Pan Macmillan)

• The Good Turn by Dervla McTiernan (Harper Collins)

• Tell Me Lies by J.P. Pomare (Hachette)

• When She Was Good by Michael Robotham (Hachette)

• White Throat by Sarah Thornton (Text)

2021 Ned Kelly Award for BEST DEBUT CRIME FICTION (4)

The Debut Crime Fiction shortlist covers a diverse range of new voices including:

• The Good Mother by Rae Cairns (Bandrui Publishing)

• The Second Son by Loraine Peck (Text)

• The Bluffs by Kyle Perry (Penguin Random House)

• The Night Whistler by Greg Woodland (Text)

2021 Ned Kelly Award for BEST TRUE CRIME (5)

• The Husband Poisoner by Tanya Bretherton (Hachette)

• Stalking Claremont: Inside the hunt for a serial killer by Bret Christian (Harper Collins)

• Public Enemies by Mark Dapin (Allen and Unwin)

• Hazelwood by Tom Doig (Penguin Random House)

• Witness by Louise Milligan (Hachette)

2021 Ned Kelly Award for BEST INTERNATIONAL CRIME FICTION (5)

The 2021 Ned Kelly Award for international crime fiction included submissions from some of the world’s biggest-selling crime fiction authors and some exciting new names. The shortlist has been narrowed down to:

• The Guest List by Lucy Foley (Harper Collins)

• The Secrets of Strangers by Charity Norman (Allen and Unwin)

• Take Me Apart by Sara Sligar (Text)

• We Begin at the End by Chris Whittaker (Allen and Unwin)

• Broken by Don Winslow (Harper Collins)

ABOUT THE NED KELLY AWARDS

The Ned Kelly Awards are Australia’s oldest and most prestigious recognition of crime fiction and true crime writing. The previous winners include: Peter Temple, Shane Maloney, Gabrielle Lord, Sarah Bailey, Adrian McKinty, Helen Garner and Duncan McNab.

Contact: 

Australian Crime Writers Association chair Robert Goodman

info@austcrimewriters.com