Western Australian Premier’s Book Awards: States finest writers recognised for excellence in storytelling | USAEMALL.com

The best of Western Australian writing was recognised at the Premier’s Book Awards last night.

Alan Fyfe won both Book of the Year and Poetry Book of the year for his debut poetry collection titled G-d, Sleep, and Chaos.

Judges described the collection as “bold, fearless and purposeful” and grounded in cultural moments.

The West Australian’s social affairs editor Kate Emery was awarded Young Adult Book of the Year for her murder-mystery My Family and Other Suspects.

Creative Industries Minister Simone McGurk acknowledged not only the talent of the writers but their cultural and creative contribution to the community.

“Storytelling is a vital part of our cultural identity, and through these awards we reaffirm the Cook Government’s commitment to supporting creative industries.” Ms McGurk said.

This year saw new categories for the awards and prizes for Book of the Year and the Daisy Utemorrah Award.

Funded by Broome-based Indigenous publisher Magabala Books, with support from the Department of Cultural Industries, Tourism and Sport, and Copyright Agency, the Daisy Utemorrah Award is open to Indigenous writers Australia-wide.

Premier Roger Cook congratulated the award recipients and acknowledged the role writing plays in our community.

“Congratulations to the winners whose work demonstrates the power of storytelling to reflect, challenge and enrich our understanding of the world,” he said.

Winners shared a prize pool of $120,000.

Premier’s Book Awards 2025 winners:

• Book of the Year, sponsored by Writing WA: G-d, Sleep, and Chaos by Alan Fyfe (Gazebo)

• Children’s Book of the Year: A Leaf Called Greaf by Kelly Canby (Fremantle Press)

• Young Adult Book of the Year: My Family and Other Suspects by Kate Emery (Allen & Unwin)

• Poetry Book of the Year: G-d, Sleep, and Chaos by Alan Fyfe (Gazebo)

• Non-Fiction Book of the Year: Anatomy of a Secret: One Man’s Search for Justice by Gerard McCann (Fremantle Press)

• Fiction Book of the Year: Shadows of Winter Robins by Louise Wolhuter (Ultimo Press)

• Emerging Writer: Matia by Emily Tsokos Purtill (UWA Publishing)

• Daisy Utemorrah Award for Unpublished Indigenous Junior and Young Adult Writing: Beau Windon for Jax Paperweight and the Neon Starway.