2008 in Australian literature

none December 2024 May 2024 This article presents a list of the historical events and publications of Australian literature during 2008. Events "The Bulletin" magazine publishes its last issue, the first was in 1880The Bulletin shuts down after 128 years The Australia Council for the Arts announces Christopher Koch and Gerald Murnane as recipients of its 2008 emeritus writers awardshttp://www.australiacouncil.gov.au/news/news_items/critically_acclaimed_writers_honoured_with_top_literary_prize Critically acclaimed writers honoured with top literary prize 2 February 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090620133452/http://www.australiacouncil.gov.au/news/news_items/critically_acclaimed_writers_honoured_with_top_literary_prize 20 June 2009 dead The Australian Federal Government announces funding for a new chair of Australian Literature based at the University of Western Australiahttp://mediacentre.dewr.gov.au/mediacentre/Gillard/Releases/GovernmentfundsnewChairinAustralianLiterature.htm Government funds new Chair in Australian Literature 2 February 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20081002084620/http://mediacentre.dewr.gov.au/mediacentre/Gillard/Releases/GovernmentfundsnewChairinAustralianLiterature.htm 2 October 2008 dead Clunes, Victoria, holds its second Booktown weekendThe book of regenesis The first Crime and Justice Festival in held in Melbourne over the weekend of 19–20 JulyCrime and Justice Festival Australia wins the right to host the 2010 World SF convention in MelbourneAussiecon 4 A number of previously unknown Banjo Paterson poems are found in an old cash book dating back to the Boer WarPoet's works discovered in war diary 18 August 2008 The Courier-Mail http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,24196115-953,00.html https://web.archive.org/web/20080916170843/http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,24196115-953,00.html dead 16 September 2008 UNESCO names Melbourne as its second City of Literature, after Edinburgh received the first such award in 2004Write at the centre Caro Llewellyn, a former director of the Sydney Writers' Festival and PEN World Voices Festival in New York, is appointed as director of the new Centre for Books, Writing and Ideas (now called the Wheeler Centre) in MelbourneCentre for writing and books gains services of a mind much travelled The Indie Book Awards are presented for the first time"Indie Book Awards" Australian Independent Booksellers https://www.indiebookawards.com.au/ 11 March 2024 Major publications Literary fiction Debra Adelaide – The Household Guide to Dying The Household Guide to Dying by Debra Adelaide National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/4313939 22 April 2025 Murray Bail – The Pages Geraldine Brooks – People of the Book Peter Carey – His Illegal Self Luke Davies – God of Speed God of Speed by Luke Davies National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/4248224 22 April 2025 Robert Drewe – The Rip The Rip by Robert Drewe National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/7286728 22 April 2025 Richard Flanagan – Wanting Helen Garner – The Spare Room Peter Goldsworthy – Everything I Knew Everything I Knew by Peter Goldsworthy National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/4653660 22 April 2025 Kate Grenville – The Lieutenant Vicki Hastrich – The Great Arch The Great Arch by Vicki Hastrich National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/4275443 22 April 2025 Wendy James – The Steele Diaries The Steele Diaries by Wendy James National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/4270914 22 April 2025 Susan Johnson – Life in Seven Mistakes Life in Seven Mistakes by Susan Johnson National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/4306364 22 April 2025 Toni Jordan – Addition Addition by Toni Jordan National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/5980004 22 April 2025 Sofie Laguna – One Foot Wrong One Foot Wrong by Sofie Laguna National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/4318468 22 April 2025 Nam Le – The Boat Joan London – The Good Parents Louis Nowra – Ice Kevin Rabelais – The Landscape of Desire The Landscape of Desire by Kevin Rabelais National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/4268578 22 April 2025 Claire Thomas – fugitive blue fugitive blue by Claire Thomas National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/4316170 22 April 2025 Steve Toltz – A Fraction of the Whole Ian Townsend – The Devil's Eye The Devil's Eye by Ian Townsend National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/4349718 22 April 2025 Christos Tsiolkas – The Slap Tim Winton – Breath Arnold Zable – Sea of Many Returns Sea of Many Returns by Arnold Zable National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/4283621 22 April 2025 Children's and young adult fiction Isobelle Carmody – The Stone Key Kate Constable – Always Mackenzie Always Mackenzie by Kate Constable National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/4278394 21 April 2025 Alison Croggon — The Singing The Singing by Alison Croggon National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/4219244 21 April 2025 Mem Fox and Helen Oxenbury – Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes by Mem Fox and Helen Oxenbury National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/8050400 21 April 2025 Jackie French – A Rose for the ANZAC Boys A Rose for the ANZAC Boys by Jackie French National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/4217921 21 April 2025 Mark Greenwood and Frane Lessac – Simpson and His Donkey Simpson and His Donkey by Mark Greenwood and Frane Lessac National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3950223 21 April 2025 Sonya Hartnett – Sadie and Ratz Jack Heath – Money Run Money Run by Jack Heath National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/4365660 21 April 2025 Simone Howell – Everything Beautiful Everything Beautiful by Simone Howell National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/4398774 21 April 2025 Catherine Jinks – Genius Squad Genius Squad by Catherine Jinks National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/4201215 21 April 2025 Maureen McCarthy – Somebody's Crying Somebody's Crying by Maureen McCarthy National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/4455854 21 April 2025 Melina Marchetta – Finnikin of the Rock Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/4466665 21 April 2025 Sophie Masson – The Case of the Diamond Shadow The Case of the Diamond Shadow by Sophie Masson National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/4391484 21 April 2025 Garth Nix – Superior Saturday Penni Russon – The Indigo Girls The Indigo Girls by Penni Russon National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3999310 21 April 2025 Shaun Tan – Tales from Outer Suburbia Tales from Outer Suburbia by Shaun Tan National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/4551839 6 August 2024 Lili Wilkinson – The (Not Quite) Perfect Boyfriend The (Not Quite) Perfect Boyfriend by Lili Wilkinson National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/4351027 21 April 2025 Sean Williams The Changeling The Changeling by Sean Williams National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/3916023 6 April 2025 Dust Devils Dust Devils by Sean Williams National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/4280393 6 April 2025 Crime and mystery Peter Corris – Open File Open File by Peter Corris National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/4230089 14 April 2025 Leah Giarratano – Voodoo Doll Voodoo Doll by Leah Giarratano National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/4300091 14 April 2025 Kerry Greenwood – Murder on a Midsummer Night Murder on a Midsummer Night by Kerry Greenwood National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/4318465 14 April 2025 Marion Halligan – Murder on the Apricot Coast Murder on the Apricot Coast by Marion Halligan National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/4198556 14 April 2025 Jarad Henry – Blood Sunset Blood Sunset by Jarad Henry National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/4237665 17 February 2025 Katherine Howell – The Darkest Hour Barry Maitland – Bright Air Bright Air by Barry Maitland National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/4300071 14 April 2025 PD Martin – Fan Mail Fan Mail by PD Martin National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/4456285 17 February 2025 Camilla Nelson – Crooked Crooked by Camilla Nelson National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/7287702 14 April 2025 Malla Nunn – A Beautiful Place to Die Alex Palmer – The Tattooed Man The Tattooed Man by Alex Palmer National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/4186604 14 April 2025 Bronwyn Parry – As Darkness Falls As Darkness Falls by Bronwyn Parry National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/4362548 14 April 2025 Kel Robertson – Smoke and Mirrors Michael Robotham – Shatter Romance Anne Gracie – The Stolen Princess The Stolen Princess by Anne Gracie Austlit https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/C652913 16 April 2025 Stephanie Laurens – The Edge of Desire The Edge of Desire by Stephanie Laurens National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/4594804 16 April 2025 Margaret Leigh – The Heart Divided The Heart Divided by Margaret Leigh Austlit https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/C674077 16 April 2025 Estelle Pinney – Burnt Sunshine Burnt Sunshine by Estelle Pinney National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/4495942 16 April 2025 Science fiction and fantasy K. A. Bedford – Time Machines Repaired While-U-Wait Time Machines Repaired While-U-Wait by K. A. Bedford ISFDB https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?1213613 22 May 2024 Honey Brown – Red Queen Red Queen by Honey Brown ISFDB https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?1290967 22 May 2024 Nathan Burrage – Fivefold Fivefold by Nathan Burrage ISFDB https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?1077663 22 May 2024 Sara Douglass – The Twisted Citadel The Twisted Citadel by Sara Douglass ISFDB https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?829262 22 May 2024 Greg Egan "Crystal Nights" Dark Integers and Other Stories Incandescence "Lost Continent" Jennifer Fallon – The Chaos Crystal The Chaos Crystal by Jennifer Fallon ISFDB https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?1024306 22 May 2024 Pamela Freeman – Deep Water Deep Water by Pamela Freeman ISFDB https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?876603 22 May 2024 Alison Goodman – The Two Pearls of Wisdom Traci Harding – The Dragon Queens The Dragon Queens by Traci Harding ISFDB https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?902959 22 May 2024 Simon Haynes – Hal Spacejock: No Free Lunch Hal Spacejock: No Free Lunch by Simon Haynes ISFDB https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?978678 22 May 2024 Margo Lanagan – Tender Morsels Juliet Marillier – Heir to Sevenwaters Heir to Sevenwaters by Juliet Marillier ISFDB https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?876567 22 May 2024 Karen Miller – Hammer of God K. E. Mills – The Accidental Sorcerer The Accidental Sorcerer by K. E. Mills ISFDB https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?984789 22 May 2024 Cat Sparks – "Sammarynda Deep" Sean Williams – Earth Ascendant Earth Ascendant by Sean Williams ISFDB https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/title.cgi?848313 22 May 2024 Drama John Doyle – The Pig Iron People The Pig Iron People by John Doyle Austlit https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/C676864 17 July 2024 Alexandra Edmondson – Cruising Joanna Murray-Smith – Ninety Ninety by Joanna Murray-Smith Austlit https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/C673171 17 July 2024 Poetry See also 2008 in poetry Robert Adamson – The Golden Bird: New and Selected Poems, The Golden Bird: New and Selected Poems by Robert Adamson National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/4361093 7 April 2025 winner of the C.J. Dennis Prize for Poetry in the 2009 Victorian Premier's Literary Awards, shortlisted for the 2009 Age Book of the Year Awards Michael Brennan – Unanimous Night Unanimous Night by Michael Brennan Austlit https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/C673387 7 April 2025 David Brooks – The Balcony, The Balcony by David Brooks National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/4267627 7 April 2025 finalist for the 2008 Kenneth Slessor Prize for Poetry; University of Queensland Press, 978-0-7022-3669-3 Brook Emery – At a Slight Angle: and Other Poems Jamie Grant – 100 Australian Poems You Need to Know (edited) Elizabeth Hodgson – Skin Painting, Skin Painting by Elizabeth Hodgson National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record//4366816 7 April 2025 winner of the 2007 David Unaipon Award; University of Queensland Press, 978-0-7022-3677-8 Sarah Holland-Batt – Aria Aria by Sarah Holland-Batt National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/4366812 7 April 2025 Clive James – Opal Sunset: Selected Poems, 1958–2008 Opal Sunset: Selected Poems, 1958–2008 by Clive James National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/4505731 7 April 2025 John Kinsella – Divine Comedy, Divine Comedy by John Kinsella National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/4366815 7 April 2025 University of Queensland Press, 978-0-7022-3666-2 Anthony Lawrence – Bark, Bark by Anthony Lawrence National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/4217640 7 April 2025 University of Queensland Press, 978-0-7022-3664-8 David Malouf – Revolving Days, Revolving Days by David Malouf National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/4217639 7 April 2025 University of Queensland Press, 978-0-7022-3635-8 Peter Rose editor – The Best Australian Poems 2008 The Best Australian Poems 2008 edited by Peter Rose Austlit https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/C678359 7 April 2025 Black Inc., 978-1-86395-303-0 Alan Wearne – The Australian Popular Songbook Non-fiction Germaine Greer – On Rage On Rage by Germaine Greer National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/4363672 29 July 2024 Chloe Hooper – The Tall Man: Death and Life on Palm Island John Silvester and Andrew Rule – Underbelly: The Gangland War Underbelly: The Gangland War by John Silvester and Andrew Rule National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/4315680 29 January 2025 Biographies Peter Costello – The Costello Memoirs The Costello Memoirs by Peter Costello National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/4455157 18 March 2025 Jacqueline Kent – An Exacting Heart: The Story of Hephzibah Menuhin An Exacting Heart: The Story of Hephzibah Menuhin by Jacqueline Kent National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/4219001 18 March 2025 Andrew Riemer – A Family History of Smoking A Family History of Smoking by Andrew Riemer National Library of Australia https://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/4264936 18 March 2025 Awards and honours Lifetime achievement Award Author Christopher Brennan Award Not awarded Patrick White Award Austlit – Patrick White Award – Past Winners Austlit https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/v617?mainTabTemplate=awardWorksAndAgents 10 September 2023 22 August 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230822040912/https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/v617?mainTabTemplate=awardWorksAndAgents dead John Romeril Literary Award Author Title Publisher The Age Book of the YearSteger Jason 2008-08-22 US travel memoir wins Age Book of the Year Award https://www.theage.com.au/national/us-travel-memoir-wins-age-book-of-the-year-award-20080822-40e3.html 2023-02-24 The Age en 14 June 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220614060308/https://www.theage.com.au/national/us-travel-memoir-wins-age-book-of-the-year-award-20080822-40e3.html live Don Watson American Journeys Random House ALS Gold Medal ALS Gold Medal – Previous Winners Association for the Study of Australian Literature https://www.asal.org.au/awards/als-gold-medal/ 13 January 2024 Michelle de Kretser The Lost Dog Allen & Unwin Colin Roderick Award Colin Roderick Award – Other Winners James Cook University https://www.jcu.edu.au/foundation-for-australian-literary-studies/roderick-award/previous-winners2 2 February 2024 Malcolm Knox Jamaica Allen & Unwin Indie Book Awards Book of the Year"Indie Book Awards – Winners 2012 & prior" Australian Independent Booksellers https://www.indiebookawards.com.au/prior-2012-winners 24 May 2024 Tim Winton Breath Hamish Hamilton Nita Kibble Literary Award2009-06-09 Kibble Literary Award https://history.cass.anu.edu.au/centres/ncb/kibble-literary-award 9 March 2024 Australian National University en-AU Carol Lefevre Nights in the Asylum Vintage Fiction International Award Region Category Author Title PublisherCommonwealth Writers' Prize"2008 Commonwealth Writers’ Prize" Literary Awards https://www.literaryawards.co.uk/commonwealthwriters.html#2008 18 January 2024SE Asia and South Pacific Best Novel Steven Carroll The Time We Have Taken HarperCollins Best First Novel Karen Foxlee The Anatomy of Wings University of Queensland Press National Award Author Title Publisher ABC Fiction Awardhttp://www.abc.net.au/corp/abcfictionaward/winner.htm ABC Fiction Award announces 2008 winner Accessed: 2008-06-28 2008-06-28 https://web.archive.org/web/20070914140206/http://www.abc.net.au/corp/abcfictionaward/winner.htm 2007-09-14 dead Kain Massin God for the Killing ABC Books Adelaide Festival Awards for LiteratureState Library of South Australia https://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/past-literary-award-winners Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature – Past Literary Award Winners 18 April 2024 9 March 2026 https://web.archive.org/web/20260309180911/https://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/past-literary-award-winners dead Roger McDonald The Ballad of Desmond Kale Vintage Books The Age Book of the Year AwardSteger Jason 2008-08-22 US travel memoir wins Age Book of the Year Award https://www.theage.com.au/national/us-travel-memoir-wins-age-book-of-the-year-award-20080822-40e3.html 15 February 2024 The Age en 14 June 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220614060308/https://www.theage.com.au/national/us-travel-memoir-wins-age-book-of-the-year-award-20080822-40e3.html live Tim Winton Breath Hamish Hamilton Australia-Asia Literary Award David Malouf The Complete Stories Knopf The Australian/Vogel Literary Award"Austlit – Australian/Vogel Award 2006-2008" Austlit https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/v385?mainTabTemplate=awardWorksAndAgents&from=12&count=3 16 February 2024 Andrew Cromme Document Z Allen and Unwin Barbara Jefferis Award"Barbara Jefferis Award" Australian Society of Authors https://www.asauthors.org.au/award/barbara-jefferis-award/ 20 January 2024 Rhyll McMaster Feather Man Brandl and Schlesinger Indie Book Awards Book of the Year – Fiction Tim Winton Breath Hamish Hamilton Indie Book Awards Book of the Year – Debut Fiction Toni Jordan Addition Text Publishing Miles Franklin Award2008-06-20 Miles Franklin Award winner 2008 – Steven Carroll https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/archived/bookshow/miles-franklin-award-winner-2008---steven-carroll/3265356 2022-08-09 Radio National en-AU Steven Carroll The Time We Have Taken HarperCollins Prime Minister's Literary Awards"Prime Minister's Literary Awards – Shortlist and winners: 2021-2008" Creative Australia https://creative.gov.au/advocacy-and-research/events/prime-ministers-literary-awards/ 11 January 2024 Steven Conte The Zookeeper's War Fourth Estate New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards"Lost Dog wins NSW literary gong" AAP Bulletin Wire 2, 19 May 2008 https://www.proquest.com/docview/455573294 3 July 2024 455573294 Michelle de Kretser The Lost Dog Allen & Unwin Queensland Premier's Literary Awards "Queensland Premier's Literary Awards - Previous Winners" Queensland Government http://www.qld.gov.au/about/events-awards-honours/awards/literary-awards/past-winners/ 13 May 2025 17 July 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120717073830/http://www.qld.gov.au/about/events-awards-honours/awards/literary-awards/past-winners/ dead Helen Garner The Spare Room Text Publishing South Australian Premier's Awards Roger McDonald The Ballad of Desmond Kale Vintage Books Victorian Premier's Literary Awardshttp://www.slv.vic.gov.au/programs/literary/pla/recipients/shortlist_winner_08.html Vance Palmer Prize for Fiction - 2008 Winner 7 February 2025 2008-09-22 https://web.archive.org/web/20080922154840/http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/programs/literary/pla/recipients/shortlist_winner_08.html live Helen Garner The Spare Room Text Publishing Western Australian Premier's Book Awards"Australian Literary Awards: Western Australian Premier's" University Libraries, University of Washington https://guides.lib.uw.edu/c.php?g=341672&p=2299464 23 May 2025 Richard Flanagan Wanting Random House Children and young adult National Award Category Author Title PublisherAurealis Award Young Adult Novel Melina Marchetta Finnikin of the Rock Viking Press Young Adult Short Story Trent Jamieson "Cracks" Shiny, magazineChildren's Book of the Year Award "CBCA – Winners 2008" CBCA https://www.cbca.org.au/winners-2008 7 October 2024 20 April 2024 https://web.archive.org/web/20240420002251/https://www.cbca.org.au/winners-2008 dead Older Readers Sonya Hartnett The Ghost's Child Viking Books Younger Readers Carole Wilkinson Dragon Moon Black Dog Books Picture Book Matt Ottley Requiem for a Beast Lothian Early Childhood Aaron Blabey Pearl Barley and Charlie Parsley Viking Books Davitt Award Young Adult NovelMandy Sayer The Night has a Thousand Eyes Fourth Estate Indie Book Awards Book of the Year Children's & YA Shaun Tan Tales from Outer Suburbia Allen & UnwinNew South Wales Premier's Literary Awards Children's Li Cunxin and Anne Spudvilas The Peasant Prince Viking Books Young People's James Roy Town University of Queensland PressQueensland Premier's Literary Awards Children's Li Cunxin and Anne Spudvilas The Peasant Prince Viking Books Young Adult Matt Ottley Requiem for a Beast Lothian South Australian Premier's Awards Children's Michael Gerard Bauer Don't Call Me Ishmael Omnibus Books Victorian Premier's Literary Award Young Adult Fiction Brigid Lowry Tomorrow All Will Be Beautiful Allen and UnwinWestern Australian Premier's Book Awards Children's Liz Lofthouse and Robert Ingpen Ziba Came on a Boat Viking Books Writing for Young Adults Ken Spillman Love is a UFO Pan Macmillan Crime and mystery National Award Category Author Title PublisherDavitt Award"LibraryThing: Davitt Awards 2008" LibraryThing https://www.librarything.com/award/2525.0.0.2006/Davitt-Award-2008 23 January 2024 Novel Katherine Howell Frantic Pan Macmillan Young adult novel Mandy Sayer The Night Has a Thousand Eyes Fourth Estate True crime Janet Fife-Yeomans Killing Jodie Penguin Readers' Choice Lindy Cameron Scarlet Stiletto: The First Cut Mira BooksNed Kelly Awards2008 Ned Kelly Award Winners http://www.austcrimewriters.com/ned-kelly-award-winners/1 https://web.archive.org/web/20160327181222/http://www.austcrimewriters.com/ned-kelly-award-winners/14 2016-03-27 23 January 2024 Australian Crime Writers Novel Michael Robotham Shatter Sphere Books First novel Chris Womersley The Low Road Scribe True crime Evan McHugh Red Centre, Dark Heart Penguin Lifetime achievement Marele Day Science fiction Award Category Author Title PublisherAurealis Award SF NovelK. A. Bedford Time Machines Repaired While-U-Wait Edge Science Fiction and Fantasy Publishing SF Short Story Simon Brown "The Empire" Dreaming Again, Voyager Fantasy Novel Alison Goodman The Two Pearls of Wisdom HarperCollins Fantasy Short Story Cat Sparks "Sammarynda Deep" Paper Cities, Senses 5 Press Horror Novel John Harwood The Seance Random House Horror Short Story Kirstyn McDermott "Painlessness" Greatest Uncommon Denominator #2Ditmar Award Novel Sean Williams Saturn Returns Orbit Books Novella/Novelette Cat Sparks "Lady of Adestan" Orb #7 Short Story Rick Kennett "The Dark and What It Said" Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine #28Collected Work Jonathan Strahan ed. The New Space Opera HarperCollinsRussell B. Farr ed. Fantastic Wonder Stories Ticonderoga Publications Poetry Award Author Title Publisher Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature John Tranter Urban Myths: 210 Poems University of Queensland Press The Age Book of the Year J. S. Harry Not Finding Wittgenstein Giramondo PublishingAnne Elder Award2008 National Literary Awards Results https://web.archive.org/web/20091013170840/http://www.writers.asn.au/uploads/file/pdf/FAW2008AwardsResults.pdf 13 October 2009 Sarah Holland-Batt Aria University of Queensland Press Sandy Fitts View from the Lucky Hotel Five Islands Press Grace Leven Prize for Poetry Austlit – Grace Leven Poetry prize (2008-2012) Austlit https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/v186 28 February 2024 Alan Wearne The Australian Popular Songbook Giramondo Publishing Mary Gilmore PrizeMary Gilmore Award Association for the Study of Australian Literature https://www.asal.org.au/awards/mary-gilmore-award/ 29 February 2024 Nathan Shepherdson Sweeping the Light Back into the Mirror University of Queensland Press New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards Kathryn Lomer Two Kinds of Silence University of Queensland Press Queensland Premier's Literary Awards David Malouf Typewriter Music University of Queensland Press Victorian Premier's Literary Award Lisa Gorton Press Release Giramondo Publishing Western Australian Premier's Book Awards Bronwyn Lea The Other Way Out Giramondo Publishing Drama Award Author Title Publisher Patrick White Playwrights' Award"Patrick White Playwrights' Award – Past Winners" Sydney Theatre Company https://www.sydneytheatre.com.au/about/information-for-artists/patrick-white-playwrights-award-and-fellowship/past-winners 25 December 2025 Nicki Bloom Bloodwood Non-fiction Award Category Author Title Publisher Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature Non-Fiction Jacob Rosenberg Sunrise West Brandl and Schlesinger The Age Book of the Year Non-fiction Don Watson American Journeys Random House Children's Book of the Year Award Eve Pownall Award for Information BooksFrances Watts, illus David Legge Parsley Rabbit's Book about Books ABC Books Davitt Award True crime Janet Fife-Yeomans Killing Jodie Penguin Books Indie Book Awards Book of the Year Non-Fiction Don Watson American Journeys Random HouseNational Biography Award"National Biography Award – Past Winners" State Library of NSW https://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/awards/national-biography-award?page=2 1 August 2024 Biography Philip Dwyer Napoleon: The Path To Power 1769–1799 Bloomsbury Publishing Graham Seal These Few Lines: A Convict Story – The Lost Lives of Myra & William Sykes ABC Books Prime Minister's Literary Awards Non-fiction Philip Jones Ochre and Rust: Artefacts and Encounters on Australian Frontiers Wakefield Press New South Wales Premier's Literary Awards Non-fiction Tom Griffiths Slicing the Silence: Voyaging to Antarctica University of New South Wales PressNew South Wales Premier's History Awards Australian HistoryPaul Ham Vietnam: The Australian War HarperCollins Community and Regional History Dianne Johnson, in collaboration with the residents of the Gully and their descendants Sacred Waters: the story of the Blue Mountains Gully Traditional Owners Halstead Press General History Michael A. McDonnell The Politics of War: Race, Class and Conflict in Revolutionary Virginia University of North Carolina Press Young People's Robert Lewis and Tim Gurry Australians in the Vietnam War Ryebuck Media Pty LtdQueensland Premier's Literary Awards Non-fiction Craig Sherborne Muck Black Inc History Professor Marilyn Lake and Professor Henry Reynolds Drawing the Global Colour Line Melbourne University Press Victorian Premier's Literary Award Non-fictionMeredith Hooper The Ferocious Summer: Palmer's Penguins and the Warming of Antarctica Allen & UnwinWestern Australian Premier's Book Awards Non-fictionAntonio Buti Sir Ronald Wilson: A Matter of Conscience University of Western Australia Press Western Australian history Ruth Marchant James Cottesloe: A Town of Distinction Town of Cottesloe Deaths 11 January – Nancy Phelan, author (born 1913) Nancy Phelan (1913-2008) Austlit https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A6964 1 December 2023 21 January – Sandra Harvey, journalist and true crime writer (born 1958)Knox David 2008-01-21 Vale: Sandra Harvey https://tvtonight.com.au/2008/01/vale-sandra-harvey.html 2026-05-24 TV Tonight en-AU 27 March – Alan Collins, short story writer (born 1928) Alan Collins (1928-2008) Austlit https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A5010 17 May 2024 8 April – John Button, politician and author (born 1933)John Button (1933-2008) https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A2278 2024-02-16 AustLit: Discover Australian Stories The University of Queensland 26 April – Pamela Bone, journalist and author (born 1940) Pamela Bone (1940-2008) Austlit https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A30648 17 May 2024 29 April – John Hooker, author (born 1932) John Hooker (1932-2008) Austlit https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A20423 17 May 2024 21 June – Justina Williams, poet (born 1916)Justina Williams (1916-2008) https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A30650 2023-09-15 AustLit: Discover Australian Stories The University of Queensland 22 June 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20230622092149/https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A30650 dead 24 August – Patricia Rolfe, short story writer and critic (born 1920) Patricia Rolfe (1920-2008) Austlit https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A30179 17 May 2024 30 September – Eleanor Spence, writer for children (born 1928)Eleanor Spence (1928-2008) https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A17501 2023-10-01 AustLit: Discover Australian Stories The University of Queensland 30 October – Jacob Rosenberg, poet and memoirist (born 1922)Jacob G. Rosenberg (1922-2008) https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A11677 2023-09-23 AustLit: Discover Australian Stories The University of Queensland 15 November – Ivan Southall, writer for children (born 1921)Ivan Southall (1921-2008) https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A34994 2023-09-23 AustLit: Discover Australian Stories The University of Queensland 11 October 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231011033446/https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A34994 dead 10 December – Dorothy Porter, poet (born 1954)Dorothy Porter (1954-2008) https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A5888 2024-02-21 AustLit: Discover Australian Stories The University of Queensland 10 February 2025 https://web.archive.org/web/20250210195029/https://www.austlit.edu.au/austlit/page/A5888 dead See also 2008 in Australia 2008 in literature 2008 in poetry List of years in literature List of years in Australian literature List of Australian literary awards References Note: all references relating to awards can, or should be, found on the relevant award's page. Literature Category:Australian literature by year Category:21st-century Australian literature Category:2008 in literature