AWC presenters Patti Miller and David Leser longlisted for the 2020 Nib Literary Award

We’re always thrilled to see our world-class presenters recognised for their work. This time, our congratulations go to Patti Miller (Life Writing) and David Leser (Profile Writing) who are both longlisted for the 2020 Nib Literary Award!

What is the Mark & Evette Moran Nib Literary Award?
According to the Waverley Council website: “The Mark & Evette Moran Nib Literary Award presented by Waverley Council with support from Principal Sponsors Mark & Evette Moran, celebrates excellence in research and writing in Australia. It is the only major national literary award of its kind presented by a local council.”

The Joy of High Places by Patti Miller

Patti Miller made the longlist with her stunning book The Joy of High Places.

The Joy of High Places is a “soaring memoir of longing, resilience and delight in the natural world… In this extraordinary and unexpected book, Patti tells the story of her own long-distance walking over hundreds of kilometres in Europe and of her brother's obsession with paragliding…This beautiful and inspiring book tells their story and reveals that the siblings share a willingness to take risks and an indefatigable determination. With rare insight and poetic writing, The Joy of High Places combines physical adventure with a powerful emotional journey.”

Women, Men and the Whole Damn Thing by David Leser

David Leser made the longlist with his book Women, Men and the Whole Damn Thing.

“In this essential and incisive investigation, Leser unearths the roots of misogyny, its inextricable links to the patriarchy, and how history brought us to the #MeToo movement and the wave of incandescent female rage that is sweeping the world. Crucially, he also interrogates his own psyche, privilege and culpability as he bears witness to the ‘collective wound of the world' and asks how we can move towards healing and profound and permanent change.”

Special mention to podcast guest Stephanie Wood

Special mention to podcast guest Stephanie Wood who is also longlisted for her book Fake: A startling true story of love in a world of liars, cheats, narcissists, fantasists and phonies.

We interviewed Stephanie Wood on episode 302 of our podcast So you want to be a writer. Listen to the episode to learn more about Stephanie’s experience and writing process. 

When will the winner be announced?
The winner of the 2020 Mark & Evette Moran Nib Literary Award will be announced on September 1 2020. To find out more about the award and see the full longlist, visit the Waverley Council website.