The Stella Prize will be an annual literary prize for Australian women’s writing.

It will raise the profile of women’s writing, and will reward one writer with a $50,000 prize. The shortlisted and winning books will be widely publicised and marketed in order to bring readers to the work of Australian women writers.

In short, the Stella Prize will celebrate and recognise Australian women’s writing, encourage a future generation of women writers, and significantly increase the readership for books by women.

International Women's Day

08 Mar 2012 to 08 Mar 2012

Our plans to be involved in a range of events to be held around Australia on International Women’s Day are coming together! Discussions are still happening with a range of bookshops but on that Thursday evening you’ll definitely find us at:

Readings Carlton, Melbourne.

Avid Reader, Brisbane.

Fullers Bookshop, Tasmania.

During the day we’re popping up all over the place:

Melbourne folk can hear Chris Gordon on her Soap Box that lunchtime at the Wheeler Centre and there will be a debate at Federation Square’s BMW Edge (details still to come).

In Sydney Kirsten Tranter will be talking about The Stella at the Sydney Library.

There’s more to come, so watch this space.

Contact

Help us raise the profile of Australian woman’s writing by donating to the Stella Award.

If you would like to make a donation or want to find out more about our upcoming events, contact us on thestellaprize@gmail.com.

The Stella Prize faces facts, highlighting the division in Australian literary culture whereby male writing is still privileged over female writing.

- Carmel Bird

The Stella Prize, with its graceful flexibility about genre, will encourage women writers to work in the forms they feel truly at home in, instead of having to squeeze themselves into the old traditional corsets.

- Helen Garner

I love the idea of the Stellas. Why have we not done this before?

- lee liberman

As merit does not come with genes, we still need to balance the books!

- eva cox ao

There has to be, and there is, scope within a country’s literature for all kinds of writing, and I want to see women practicing every kind of writing that represents our literature, and to be acknowledged and honored for doing so.

- dr anne summers ao

The Stella Prize is much-needed recognition of the wonderful books being written by our women writers —one that is necessary for a vibrant and diverse publishing industry.

- claudia karvan

Hooray for the Stella Prize, which recognises that women writers and readers are the pillar of the Australian publishing industry. We buy the books; we teach the young ones to read; and we want to reward the women writers who enrich our lives by telling our stories.

- wendy harmer

2011 The Stella Prize / Designed & developed by Inventive Labs and built using Blueprint.

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