TASMANIAN WRITERS’ PRIZE 2026 – Winner and finalists

 

The prize is for short stories up to 3,000 words having an island, or island-resonant, theme.

The winning entry receives a cash prize of $500 and all finalists’ stories will appear in the Forty South Short Story Anthology 2026 (due out in October, 2026).

 

2026 JUDGES: Rayne Allinson, Alan Carter and Nadia Majouri

 

Forty South would like to thank all entrants for supporting this annual prize and express our sincere appreciation to our judges for their work in selecting the following 11 stories.

 

WINNER

Corey Docking (TAS) | Asylum with a Refugee (read it here)

 

Corey Docking was born and raised in Hobart, Tasmania, and returned in 2024 after six years living in Queensland.  He lives with his wife and three children. His writing explores masculinity and the shifting relationships between fathers and sons.

 

HIGHLY COMMENDED

Simon Brown (NSW) | Eilean

 

Simon Brown has written over 50 short stories which have been published in Australia, the US, the UK, Poland and Japan. A handful of stories have been picked up for Year’s Best anthologies in Australia and the US. He has also written eight novels, all published in Australia; the last six were also published in the US and Russia. His website is Strange Borders.

 

FINALISTS (alphabetical by surname)

Sue Barker (NZ) | Island Getaway

Elaine Chennatt (TAS) | King Billy Pine

Moddey Doon (SA) | The Ideal Way of Living

Paulette Gittins (VIC) | The Mistress Stone

Ilonka Guse (NT) | The Island

Jared Kranz (QLD) | Lost Sands

Megan McGrath (QLD) | Wreckage

Carol Millner (WA) | Swimming to Australia

Kathy Shortland-Jones (WA) | Salt Five Ways