The annual Penguin Literary Prize returns, offering literary fiction writers the opportunity to win $20,000 and publish with PRH AU.
In 2017, Penguin Random House Australia established the Penguin Literary Prize to discover, nurture and develop literary fiction writers, providing a unique platform for new and diverse voices to emerge.
Offering aspiring authors the chance to become a part of the Penguin Random House (PRH) community, the winner of the Penguin Literary Prize receives $20,000 and the opportunity to publish with PRH, home to over 80 Nobel Prize laureates and hundreds of the world’s most widely read authors.
Since its inception, the Penguin Literary Prize has received submissions from across Australia in a variety of genres and subjects with each winner going on to publish with PRH and many selling international and foreign-language rights, spreading Australian literature from the UK to Estonia and beyond.
Previous winners include Hitch by Kathryn Hind (2019), The Spill by Imbi Neeme (2020), The Rabbits by Sophie Overett (2021), Denizen by James McKenzie Watson (2022), On A Bright Hillside in Paradise by Annette Higgs (2023) and Jade and Emerald by Michelle See-Tho (2024), with The Occupation by Chloe Adams to be published July 2025.
‘The prize was established to provide more paths to publishing for undiscovered writers,’ says PRH publisher, Meredith Curnow. ‘From booksellers to editors, many PRH associates read entries, and we all look forward to playing a part in bringing new writers and books to publication.’
Chloe Adams, winner of the 2024 Penguin Literary Prize, says, 'Winning the Penguin Literary Prize has been life-changing on both a personal and professional level. Making that psychological shift from I feel like a writer to I am a writer is a profound one, and prizes like this are rare opportunities for emerging writers to make that leap.'
'I could not recommend entering this prize highly enough. The team at Penguin Random House have been incredibly supportive of my creative vision.'
The details
- The prize: $20,000 and the opportunity to publish with PRH AU
- Eligibility: Submissions open to all Australian residents aged 18+, more T&C here
- Submitting: Entries can be submitted here or at penguin.com.au/penguinliteraryprize
- Important dates:
- Submissions close on 16 December 2024 at 11:59 PM AEDT
- Shortlist announced 13 March 2025, 10 AM AEDT
- Winner announced 12 June 2025, 10 AM AEDT
Penguin Random House Australia is thrilled to announce The Occupation by Chloe Adams as the winner of the Penguin Literary Prize 2024.
See the six shortlisted titles for the 2024 Penguin Literary Prize. Winner to be announced 6 June 2024.
See the six shortlisted titles for the 2023 Penguin Literary Prize. Winner to be announced 15 June 2023.
‘You owe it to the writer you are to put your work out there.’
James McKenzie Watson, the author of Denizen, offers up some advice to anyone interested in entering the Penguin Literary Prize 2023.
It is one of France's most prestigious literary awards, celebrating the best foreign books of non-fiction and fiction.
He is the first author to have ever won both the Booker Prize and Baillie Gifford Prize.
Compact yet beautifully expansive, Orbital invites us to observe Earth’s splendour, whilst reflecting on the individual and collective value of every human life.
Penguin Random House Australia (PRH AU) celebrates the 5-year anniversary since the publication of the first Bluey book!
Penguin Random House Australia is thrilled to have three titles recognised with this honour.
