The shortlist is:
Jessica Au, Cold Enough for Snow
Robbie Arnott, Limberlost
Yumna Kassab, The Lovers
Fiona Kelly McGregor, Iris
Shankari Chandran, Chai Time at the Cinnamon Gardens
Kgshak Akec, Hopeless Kingdom
The stories crisscross through time and traverse from Australia to Sri Lanka, Japan, and the migrant trail from South Sudan—any tale that “presents Australian life in any of its phases” is eligible, and I appreciate the fluidity there.
Jessica Au’s Cold Enough for Snow has already taken honors in the $100,000 Victorian prize for literature and the $25,000 fiction category at the Victorian premier’s literary awards. Fiona Kelly McGregor’s Iris was longlisted for the Stella prize.
The Miles Franklin award is named for Stella Maria Sarah Miles Franklin, who of course wrote My Brilliant Career. The Stella prize, awarded to a nonbinary or female author, is likewise named for her. The winner will be announced on July 25th.
