Culture Street

Perth writer Amanda Betts has won this year’s Text Prize for Young Adult and Children with her manuscript, Zac and Mia. Betts received a $10,000 advance against royalties and a publishing contract with Text. Zac and Mia will be published in 2013.

Irish writer Belinda McKeon has been awarded the Geoffrey Faber Memorial Prize for her first novel, Solace. McKeon receives 1,000 and joins the ranks of previous winners Julian Barnes and Seamus Heaney. The judges, who included Rachel Cusk, Jonathan Ruppin and Leo Robson, said the book proved “there are new ways of being a traditionalist”.

Melbourne Writers Festival announced their program this week.They have a stellar line up including Simon Callow, the actor from Four Weddings and a Funeral, but most recently author of Charles Dickens and the Great Theatre of the World (published in Australia as Dickens). Callow will be giving the opening address as well as a number of sessions where he will  discuss the value of the theatre to the great writer Charles Dickens. Events continue around the world to celebrate the 200th birthday of Charles Dickens. Here is a sneak peek at Callow giving an introduction to Dickens’ London:

Joining Callow at the MWF will be writers from The New Yorker, including Editorial Director Henry Finder, staff writer David Grann and music critic Sash Frere-Jones. Big name international authors such as Chris Cleave will be attending, promoting his latest novel Gold, as well as home grown talent Charlotte Wood and John Flanagan. You can download the complete program here.