Fresh voices shine as Readings Prize winners announced in Carlton

Three emerging Australian authors were celebrated in Carlton on November 14, as Readings announced the winners of its annual literary prizes – a unique program dedicated to supporting debut and second-time writers across children’s, young adult and adult fiction.

Held at La Mama Theatre, the 2025 Readings Prize ceremony marked another milestone for the independent bookseller’s commitment to championing new Australian voices. Each category winner received $5000, with an additional $1000 awarded for the Gab Williams Prize, selected by the Readings Teen Advisory Board.

Melbourne author Dominic Amerena took out the Readings New Australian Fiction Prize for I Want Everything (Summit Books Australia), a witty and sharply observed debut exploring Australia’s long history of literary hoaxes.

Judge Teddy Peak praised Amerena for tackling big questions with humour and intelligence: “who owns stories? What does it mean to tell them? What stories do we tell about ourselves? And what is the difference between a story and a lie?”

In the Young Adult category, Queensland debut author Ian X. Cho won for Aisle Nine (HarperCollins), described by judges as both wildly entertaining and deeply relevant. Set against the backdrop of an apocalyptic retail workplace, the novel blends explosive action with a critique of consumerism and corporate control. “It’s a straight-up blast,” chair Fiona Hardy said. “There’s joy and fear and a whole lot of courage.”

The Readings Children’s Prize was awarded to Malaysian-Australian debut author Raidah Shah Idil for How to Free a Jinn (Allen & Unwin), a story rich with cultural detail, culinary references and supernatural intrigue. Judges praised its warmth and authenticity, noting the vivid worldbuilding and exploration of identity through the eyes of protagonist Insyirah. “You can almost feel the humidity – and taste the food,” chair Tamuz Ellazam said.

The Gab Williams Prize, selected by teenage readers themselves, went to Emma Clancey for This Dream Will Devour Us (Allen & Unwin), a Sydney medical student’s debut that blends urban fantasy, romance and action. Judge Annalisa Chen called it “a beautifully thought-out urban fantasy … with a little something for everyone” and praised its tight pacing and immersive mystery.

Now in its 11th year, the Readings Prize continues to fill an important niche in the Australian literary landscape, spotlighting new authors at a pivotal stage in their careers.

First established in 2014, the prize has grown into one of the country’s most respected platforms for emerging talent, with Readings using its reach to promote winners in-store, online and through events.

With more than $16,000 awarded across four categories, the 2025 prizes reaffirm Readings’ mission to nurture the next generation of Australian storytellers – offering not just financial assistance, but a vital boost in visibility at a time when early-career writers need it most. •