Readings Prize
{{Short description|Australian literary award}}
First presented in 2014, the Readings Prize is an Australian literary award across three separate categories of fiction: Children's, Young Adult and New Australian Fiction.{{Cite web |title=The Readings Prize — Readings Books |url=https://www.readings.com.au/the-readings-prize |access-date=2023-07-30 |website=www.readings.com.au |language=en}} It is run by Readings bookstores, an independent Melbourne bookseller with eight stores, established in 1969.{{Cite web |last=Steger |first=Jason |date=2023-07-30 |title=One of ‘the world’s great booksellers’ ends a long chapter at Readings |url=https://www.theage.com.au/culture/books/one-of-the-world-s-great-booksellers-ends-a-long-chapter-at-readings-20230727-p5drp1.html |access-date=2023-07-30 |website=The Age |language=en}} In 2016, Readings won International Bookstore of the Year at the London Book Fair, a category open to all stores outside of the UK.{{Cite news |last=Harmon |first=Steph |date=2016-04-16 |title=Breaking borders: how to make the best bookshop in the world |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/books/2016/apr/16/breaking-borders-how-to-make-the-best-bookshop-in-the-world |access-date=2023-07-31 |issn=0261-3077}} Every year, a shortlist of six titles is selected by a revolving panel of Readings staff. Once the shortlist has been decided, a guest judge then joins the panel to select a winner. The Prize is awarded to the work of highest literary merit.{{Cite web |title=Readings Prize Winners |url=https://www.goodreads.com/award/show/28053-readings-prize |access-date=2023-07-31 |website=www.goodreads.com}}
Readings owner Mark Rubbo said about the awards: 'It can be difficult for debut and second-time authors to attract attention, especially when the heavy-hitters dominate the media. We established the prizes to attract readers who might not necessarily pick up these books otherwise.'{{Cite web |last=Mem: 10183096 |title=Au, Burton, Archbold win 2022 Readings Prizes {{!}} Books+Publishing |url=https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2022/10/27/222523/au-burton-archbold-win-2022-readings-prizes/ |access-date=2023-07-31 |language=en-AU}}
Created to "financially reward and promote debut and second-time authors of children's, young adult, and new Australian fiction", the Readings Prizes "support new and outstanding Australian voices".{{Cite web |last=Mem: 10279080 |title=Readings Young Adult Prize 2023 shortlist announced {{!}} Books+Publishing |url=https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2023/08/24/236442/readings-young-adult-prize-2023-shortlist-announced/ |access-date=2023-08-26 |language=en-AU}}
Winners of the New Australian Fiction Prize include: Jessica Au,{{Cite web |date=2022-10-27 |title=Cold Enough for Snow by Jessica Au wins the 2022 Readings Prize for Fiction |url=https://giramondopublishing.com/cold-enough-for-snow-by-jessica-au-wins-2022-readings-prize-for-fiction/ |access-date=2023-07-31 |website=Giramondo Publishing |language=en-AU}} Alice Robinson,{{Cite web |last=Mem: 10169160 |title=‘The Glad Shout’ wins Readings Prize for New Australian Fiction {{!}} Books+Publishing |url=https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2019/11/14/142143/the-glad-shout-wins-readings-prize-for-new-australian-fiction/ |access-date=2023-07-31 |language=en-AU}} Andrew Pippos, Jennifer Down, Elizabeth Tan, Stephanie Bishop,{{Cite web |last=Cooke |first=Dewi |date=2015-10-27 |title=Stephanie Bishop wins Readings Prize for new Australian fiction |url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/books/stephanie-bishop-wins-readings-prize-for-new-australian-fiction-20151027-gkjkwi.html |access-date=2023-07-31 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}} Sam Carmody,{{Cite web |last=Steger |first=Jason |date=2017-10-24 |title=Sam Carmody wins Readings fiction prize |url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/books/sam-carmody-wins-readings-fiction-prize-20171024-gz75qk.html |access-date=2023-07-31 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}} Zoe Morrison, and Ceridwen Dovey.
In 2023, Readings awarded an additional young adult book prize: the Gab Williams Prize will ‘honour previous prize manager and young adult author Gab Williams, who passed away suddenly in January 2023', said Readings. The winner of the new prize is chosen by the Readings Teen Advisory Board, who are readers aged between 14 and 19 years, from the Readings YA Book Prize shortlist.{{Cite web |last=Mem: 10279192 |title=Readings Young Adult Prize 2023 shortlist announced {{!}} Books+Publishing |url=https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2023/08/24/236442/readings-young-adult-prize-2023-shortlist-announced/ |access-date=2023-08-26 |language=en-AU}} The inaugural winner of the Gab Williams Prize was Completely Normal (and Other Lies) by Biffy James (HGCP) in 2023.{{Cite web |last=Mem: 11669552 |title=Completely Normal (and Other Lies) wins inaugural Gab Williams Prize {{!}} Books+Publishing |url=https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2023/11/01/240235/completely-normal-and-other-lies-wins-inaugural-gab-williams-prize/ |access-date=2023-11-17 |language=en-AU}}