2009 Text Prize Young Adult Writing Winner

Winner of The Text Prize for Young Adult and Children's Writing in 2009 is... Leanne Hall for This Is Shyness. Text are excited about Leanne's compelling novel about two teenagers finding their place in a world that is increasingly difficult to understand. This is Shyness follows Wolfboy and Wildgirl through one night in Shyness, a city where the sun never rises. On a quest to retrieve a stolen card, they confront the menacing Kidds and push themselves to the boundaries of their fears as they help each other face the pain in their lives. It's a highly original story from an exciting new talent. Text would like to thank all those who entered the competition and to congratulate the shortlisted writers. The standard of entries was extremely high. Please watch the Text website for details of the 2010 Text Prize for Young Adult and Children's Writing. And keep writing! Text hope you have been following the success of last year's winner The Billionaire's Curse, which is on sale now. The rights have already been sold into five territories, and author Richard Newsome is appearing at the Melbourne Writers Festival. To read an interview with Leanne Hall and to find out more about this competition go to the Text Publishing website www.textpublishing.com.au