The winner of the 2012
Text Prize for Young Adult and Children’s Writing is A.J. Betts, for her tender
and funny young adult novel Zac and Mia.
Zac and Mia is the story of two
teens who meet and form a relationship on a cancer ward, but who find life
outside the hospital much more complicated.
An English teacher and
university lecturer from Perth, A.J. Betts has won $10,000 and a publishing
contract with Text Publishing. Betts is also the author of two young
adult novels, Shutter Speed (2008) and Wavelength (2010).
Wavelengh was shortlisted for the West Australian Premier’s Prize in 2011.
On hearing the news,
Betts (left speaking at the awards ceremony) commented, ‘I’m thrilled. Writing a novel is a long, all-consuming task,
often plagued with self-doubt. To come out the other side and receive such validating
news is more than a writer could hope for. I’m honoured and humbled by the
judges’ decision, and very excited about the future of Zac and Mia.’
Michael Heyward,
Publisher at Text, remarked, ‘The Text Prize is now five years old. We’ve
published some wonderful books in that time: The Billionaire’s Curse by
Richard Newsome, This Is Shyness by Leanne Hall, The Bridge by
Jane Higgins and Fire in the Sea by Myke Bartlett. Now we have a
wonderful fifth novel to publish: Zac and Mia by A.J. Betts, a deeply
moving book about the relationship that grows between two kids with cancer. We
can’t wait to usher this marvellous book into the world.’
Zac and Mia by A. J. Betts
will be published in August 2013.
The
Text Prize is awarded annually to the best manuscript written by an
Australian or New Zealander for young adults or children.
Entries for the 2013
prize open in March 2013.
Watch out for the 2011
Text Prize winner, Fire in the Sea by Myke Bartlett, in August 2012.
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