Mirandi Riwoe’s Stone Sky Gold Mountain Wins the Inaugural ARA Historical Novel Prize

12 Nov

The inaugural ARA Historical Novel Prize has been awarded to Brisbane-based Mirandi Riwoe for her novel Stone Sky Gold Mountain published by University of Queensland Press.

You can watch the video broadcast of the awards ceremony via the HNSA YouTube channel or click on the video below.

https://youtu.be/BIPubS9emBI

The Historical Novel Society Australasia (HNSA), in partnership with ARA Group, presented the $60,000 prize via live broadcast from the official award ceremony held last night at the State Library of New South Wales.

Riwoe was awarded $50,000 as the overall prize winner, with $5,000 awarded to each of the shortlisted authors: Sienna Brown for Master of My Fate (Penguin Books Australia) and Catherine Jinks for Shepherd (Text Publishing).

The ARA Historical Novel Prize is the most significant genre-based prize in Australasia. It is designed to give historical novelists the opportunity to be recognised in a class of their own — for the first time ever as part of an Australian and New Zealand literary award.

About Stone Sky Gold Mountain

Selectedfrom more than 185 entries, Riwoe’s Stone Sky Gold Mountain recreatesthe experiences of Chinese siblings, Ying and Lai Yue, struggling to survive onNorthern Queensland’s goldfields in 1877. The richly imagined novel explores themesof identity, racism, colonialism and gender—all of which are relevant today.

Speakingon behalf of the ARA Historical Novel Prize judging panel, Chair Linda Funnellsaid Riwoe’s skill at presenting diverse viewpoints in intricate detail madeher novel stand out in a very strong field.

“StoneSky Gold Mountain is a layered novel that transports us into the heat andchaos of the Palmer River goldfields of Far North Queensland, with its threecentral characters depicted with sensitivity and clear-eyed empathy. Theharshness of the goldfields is vividly recreated, contrasting the hopes anddreams of the protagonists with the realities of violence and hunger.

“Thehistorical detail is deftly woven into the narrative through the perspectivesof the three characters, showing a depth of understanding of the period and itsattitudes. It is both intimate in its exploration of character, and epic in itsdepiction of the enormous social and economic movement of people and resourcesinto Far North Queensland during the gold rush. Stone Sky Gold Mountainencompasses racism, snobbery and sexual violence, alongside moments oftenderness and connection in prose that is immediate, vivid and poignant.”

Mirandi Riwoe on Historical Fiction

Drawnto stories of the culturally marginalised, Riwoe — who studied politics andholds a PhD in Creative Writing and Literary Studies — tackles a past rarelyportrayed in Australian fiction.

MirandiRiwoe said: “Historical fiction allows us as readers and writers to know moreabout the past, and those who weren’t written about or investigated, such aswomen and the working class or the culturally diverse. It can often reflectcontemporary concerns and show how far we’ve come as a society, but alsoilluminate how far we have to go.”

“An award like the ARA Historical Novel Prize is essential in supporting and promoting historical fiction as a genre and its authors, and there was quite a bit of excitement for this generous new prize, especially for historical fiction. I couldn’t resist throwing my hat in the ring.”

To hear more from Mirandi, take a look at our two recent interviews with her:

Illuminating Pockets of Little-Know History

HNSAChair and author Elisabeth Storrs said: “On behalf of the HNSA, I'd like tocongratulate Mirandi Riwoe on winning the inaugural ARA Historical Novel Prizefor her exceptional novel. Stone Sky Gold Mountain is a shining exampleof how historical fiction can illuminate pockets of little-known history in away that enlightens readers and creates empathy for those whose stories havebeen erased or forgotten.”

ARA Group Founder, Executive Chair and Managing Director, Edward Federman said: “It’s been a pleasure to award the first ever ARA Historical Novel Prize to a truly deserving author. On behalf of the ARA Group, we’re thrilled to make a significant impact on the lives of those in the literary community with $60,000 awarded between the winner and two shortlisted entrants — particularly during what continues to be an incredibly difficult time for authors whose livelihoods have been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.”