Helena Fox and Suzie Miller: Shining Stars on the 2024 NSW Premier’s Literary Awards Shortlist

In exciting news from the 2024 NSW Premier’s Literary Awards, Helena Fox’s The Quiet and the Loud and Suzie Miller’s Prima Facie have both been shortlisted, marking a significant recognition for their exceptional novels.

Helena Fox’s novel, shortlisted for the Ethel Turner Award for Young People’s Literature is set against Sydney’s challenging summer of 2019-20. Fox artfully portrays the entangled support and restrictions within George’s relationships, praised by judges for balancing ‘truthfulness and hope.’ Fox’s work resonates deeply within and beyond the literary community for its empathetic exploration of youth and healing.

Equally noteworthy is Suzie Miller’s Prima Facie, clinching a spot on the Christina Stead Prize for Fiction’s shortlist. An absorbing drama that thrusts readers into the legal and emotional milieu, Miller’s work scrutinises the realms of justice and truth through a gripping narrative. This recognition underscores Suzie Miller’s prowess in creating riveting, thought-provoking fiction that engages with pressing societal issues.

As the literary world looks forward to the awards ceremony on May 20, the nominations of  The Quiet and the Loud and Prima Facie already stand as a testament to the vibrant and dynamic storytelling that defines contemporary Australian literature.