The Richell Prize Shortlist 2025

Hachette Australia, along with the Richell family, and in partnership with the Emerging Writers’ Festival (EWF) and Simpsons Solicitors, is delighted to announce the shortlist for the 2025 Richell Prize for Emerging Writers, now in its eleventh year.

Joel Naoum, Publishing Director of Hachette Australia, says: ‘It was a pleasure to chair the Richell Prize judging panel again this year. The prize continues to attract a wide range of voices and ideas, and it’s always inspiring to see the breadth of emerging talent coming through. Our discussions were thoughtful and engaged, and we were united in our admiration for the writers who showed real confidence, originality and emotional depth in their work. The shortlisted writers each demonstrated something distinctive – a clear sense of voice, purpose and potential. Thank you to every writer who submitted their work, and to the judges for their insight and generosity throughout the process. The Richell Prize remains a vital space for discovering and supporting new Australian writers, and I’m excited to see what this year’s shortlisted writers achieve next.’

Jes Layton, EWF Executive Director & Co-CEO, says: ‘Since beginning my time at EWF in 2023, every year I have been blown away by the quality, standard and phenomenal achievement of the writers who submit and the writers who are listed for the Richell Prize. Administering this unique prize is an immense privilege and responsibility that would not be possible without the work of the prize judges, submission readers and, of course, this year's Richell Prize Coordinator, Anita Solak. I want to thank you all for your tireless efforts in helping us decide these final five shortlistees from over seven hundred entries. Congratulations to the 2025 Richell Prize shortlisted writers. This is an incredible achievement, and you should all feel so proud.’

This year, more than 775 entries were received, each read by two initial readers before the longlist was chosen and then considered by the judging panel of Kate Mayor from Dymocks; Sally Tabner from Bookoccino; Nea Close-Brown from the Indigenous Literacy Foundation; Vanessa Radnidge, Head of Non-Fiction & Literary at Hachette Australia; and bestselling author Hannah Richell. They read and discussed the entries together to determine the brilliant shortlist.

They are, in alphabetical order by surname:

Arden Baker, THREE FLAMES ATE THE SUN:
All the judges agreed that the beautifully drawn characters, confident world-building and writing skill in this impressive fantasy work showed great promise. The brilliantly imagined world, where three sisters with very different skills unite to overcome the iron-grip of a powerful Triarchy, has the potential to appeal to a wide audience of readers hungry for their next fantasy fix.

Jake Dean, FOR REASONS I CAN’T DISCERN:
This is an impressive collection of short stories full of imagination, humour and humanity, which all the judges connected with. The work shows the reader a dazzling range of ideas and prose of great promise, and all the judges commented on the writer’s lightness of touch and their clever, observational details that demonstrate confident literary talent.

Yang Liu, WHITE ASH, BLACK ASH:
This intriguing examination of death, grief, and the solace and confusion cultural identity can bring at times of stress fascinated the judges. The accessibility of the narrative style and the complexity and ambition of the work’s themes show a writer with promise and a story that draws a reader in.

Monique Marani, THE SWEETER:
The judges praised the quality of the writing and the confident storytelling that so evocatively transported readers to 1990s Bosnia. It reveals a powerful journey of self-discovery as a teenage girl navigates a fractured, male-dominated world in search of self-expression and freedom. A work rich with promise and intrigue.

Georgia White, ABYSS:
Stylish and assured literary writing paired with an intriguing premise left all the judges eager to read more. This work offers both a portrait of a marriage in crisis and a world on the brink of catastrophe. The judges admired the way it deftly weaves elements of cli-fi, horror and literary fiction into a story that feels both curious and compelling.

In announcing the shortlist, the judges said: ‘It was an absolute privilege to read the work of the nineteen longlisted writers brave enough to back themselves and enter the Richell Prize. It is always interesting to hear the different views aired as each work is discussed and it is never an easy task to settle on a shortlist. However, these five shortlisted writers show the quality and depth of contemporary Australian writing and help honour the legacy of Matt Richell, a man who was dedicated to promoting and encouraging emerging writers.’

The Richell Prize winner will be announced on Thursday 6 November 2025.