Author shortlisted for award
FORMER Grafton woman Gillian Mears is in line to win one of Australia's most coveted literary prizes.
The 2012 Barbara Jefferis Award, valued at $35,000, is presented by the Australian Society of Authors and is offered annually for the best novel written by an Australian author that depicts women and girls in a positive way or otherwise empowers the status of women and girls in society.
The award is in its fifth year and carries one of the richest prizes in the Australian literary landscape.
Previous winners Helen Garner, Rhyll McMaster, Kristina Olsson and G.L. Osborne have found the award's worth extended beyond the financial support it brought.
Ms Mears, who grew up in Grafton and Lismore, is nominated for Foal's Bread (Allen & Unwin).
Her books include Ride a Cock Horse, Fineflour, The Mint Lawn, The Grass Sister and A Map of the Gardens.
She now resides in the Adelaide hills.
