Media Release from ASA

It is with great pleasure that the Australian Society of Authors announces that Danielle Binks, well-known columnist at Kill Your Darlings, has won this year’s Ray Koppe Young Writers’ Residency. Danielle will receive a one-week residency at Varuna, The Writers’ House, to support the development of her YA novel, ‘The True Constant’.

Established in 2011, this annual program is awarded to an unpublished Australian writer under 30. While applications for this year’s Residency varied in genre, the majority of submissions were for novels and young adult fiction. The assessment panel noted that, “Speculative fiction made up a significant number of entries; others explored classic literary styles. Realism appears to be the less favoured genre at the moment, with the best manuscripts in the realistic mode having a pleasing originality and a vividness of style.”

Applications were assessed by Judith Ridge and Lynne Spender, who commented that Binks’ work, “demonstrates a level of sophistication and an assiduous attention to detail that calls for a celebration of a fine new voice in Australian literature … Of major note are the genuine and believable voice of a well-drawn main character and the lyrical realism of the writing style.”

A further four applicants were commended:

Cassie Doyle for ‘What Happens Next’ (YA)
Brooke Maggs for ‘Six Bodies of Truth’ (science fiction)
Kelsi Morris-Bullot for ‘Old Souls’ (fiction)
Mitchell Welch for ‘Cascade Gardens’ (fiction)

The full assessors’ report can be read at www.asauthors.org.

The Residency was established with financial support from the Koppe family as a tribute to their mother, Ray Koppe, who for many years managed the business affairs of the Australian Society of Authors. Ray was always interested in young writers and the Residency reflects her passion for supporting them.

For more details or to interview Danielle Binks contact Lucie Stevens, Program Manager on 02 9211 1004 or [email protected].