The eagerly awaited return of the Whitsundays Writers Festival in September 2024 offers an exciting opportunity for writers, poets, and book cover designers across Australia.
In a bold initiative, the Festival launched earlier this year the Whitsundays Literary Heart Awards, offering substantial cash prizes to recognise and honour outstanding contributions to the literary and design landscape.
The Heart Awards’ mission is to spotlight the diverse talents within the Australian creative community while also paying homage to the captivating Heart Reef—a natural wonder found in the Whitsundays region.
Festival President Karen Jacobsen expressed enthusiasm for the awards program, “We believe in celebrating the richness of Australian creativity in all its forms. The Whitsundays Literary Heart Awards are a testament to our commitment to recognising and rewarding the extraordinary talents within our community,” remarked Karen.
The Heart Award for Best Published Book Cover Design offers a first prize of $1,500 and $500 for the runner up for original design works for books published in Australia between 1 July 2023 and 30 June 2024 and offered for sale to the public.
Book covers in any genre were eligible, as were printed books, ebooks and audio book cover designs.
We are delighted to announce the longlisted submissions for the 2024 Best Published Book Cover Design award:
• A Leaf Called Greaf, designer Rebecca Mills.
• Birdy, designer Imogen Stubbs.
• Courage Be My Friend, designer Rebecca Mills.
• I am the Mau, designer Rebecca Mills.
• Minutiae, poet and painter Kirsten Johnston.
• Mums and Mogs, author and illustrator Mick Elliot.
• The Furphy Anthology 2023, designer Josh Durham/Design by Committee.
• The Skeleton House, designer Nada Backovic.
• They Who Nicked the Sun, designer Nicola Matthews.
• Those Girls, designer Walker Books.
The judging panel have diligently reviewed submissions for the Best Published Book Cover Design award against three selection criteria of title clarity and genre indication, visual appeal and tone setting, and introduction of key elements and design.
The longlist submissions are currently under further consideration. From the longlist, a final shortlist will be selected, and winners announced on Saturday 7 September 2024 at the Whitsunday Sailing Club.
“In a world where first impressions matter, book covers serve as visual gateways to literary worlds. We are proud to shine a spotlight on the designers whose artistry enriches the literary landscape,” Karen remarked. “There is little recognition for our designers and the cover prize is a timely addition to the Heart Awards.”
The Festival is grateful for the generous support by the major venue partner the Whitsunday Sailing Club in hosting this year’s event.
For Festival program and tickets visit our website: www.whitsundayswriters.com
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