News  •  19 May 2026

 

Farewell to the Text Prize (but keep those manuscripts coming!)

After sixteen years and many wonderful stories, we regret to bring you the news that the Text Prize has been discontinued.

We have enjoyed reading the many hundreds of manuscripts received since the Text Prize began in 2008, and we are so very proud of the near fifty books we’ve published by writers who have come to us through the prize. The Text Prize has launched some amazing careers and it has unearthed many extraordinary books.

We have now made the reluctant decision that Caroline Stills’ A Gift From the Birds, the 2024 winner, should be the final recipient of the prize.

We want to thank everyone who has contributed over the years to make the Text Prize such a success. If you’re preparing a manuscript for the Text Prize, don’t despair! We will continue to accept YA and middle grade submissions year round, along with manuscripts in many other categories, through our Manuscript Submissions portal

Text continues its active search for exciting new talent through our unsolicited submissions process. All manuscripts are considered carefully by a team of readers, so please keep sending us your wonderful works.  

More features

See all
News
Gerald Murnane receives 2026 King's Birthday Honour

Gerald Murnane was announced an Officer of the Order of Australia, AO, in the General Division for distinguished service to literature as an author and novelist, and to tertiary education.

News
Indigenous Writer’s Mentorship Winner

Writing NSW and Text Publishing are delighted to announce the winner of the inaugural Boundless Indigenous Writer’s Mentorship: Allanah Hunt.

News
The Hierarchy Deluxe Editions are coming

The first two volumes in global bestselling author James Islington’s Hierarchy fantasy series are coming in July! Aurealis Award-winner The Will of the Many and New York Times No. 1 bestseller The Strength of the Few will be available in gorgeous deluxe hardcover editions from 14 July.

News
June New Books

June is the perfect month for curling up with a cup of tea and a good book. You’ll have to sort the tea, but we’ve got you covered on the reading front.

News
Text Publishing joins Penguin Random House

Penguin Random House Australia and The Text Publishing Company today announced that they have signed an agreement under which Text Publishing will join Penguin Random House, the world’s largest trade publishing house. The acquisition includes all of Text Publishing.

News
In Honour of Elizabeth Harrower

Elizabeth Harrower died on Tuesday 7 July 2020 at the great age of ninety-two. Elizabeth thought...

News
Text Authors at the Melbourne Writers Festival

Like many literary events, the Melbourne Writers Festival can be a daunting space to find your w...

News
Flights by Olga Tokarczuk: an Appreciation and an Extract

This month, Text published a rather remarkable Polish novel called Flights by Olga Tokarczuk. Wh...

News
Five Years of Text Classics!

In May 2012, Text Publishing set out to reintroduce Australia to its forgotten literary history....

News
Vale, Inga Clendinnen

Inga Clendinnen, 1934–2016  Inga Clendinnen was a brilliant historian and an extraordinary write...

News
Noni Hazlehurst Reads Go the F**k to Sleep

Go the F**k to Sleep - read by Noni Hazlehurst from Text Publishing on Vimeo. Noni Hazlehurst ...

Looking for more news?

See all news