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Tom writes a premier book
18 April 2008
BILGOLA author Thomas Keneally says he has an addiction to writing that could have destroyed him but the pain has paid off with his nomination for a $20,000 literary prize.
The Widow and Her Hero is a contender for the Christina Stead Prize in the NSW Premier's Literary Awards.
The book follows the story of Grace, a woman who must adjust to life after the death of her husband.
``It's a good book,'' Keneally said yesterday. ``But I'm writing my best book now.
``Every writer is deluded enough to think their next book is their best.
``It's an addiction, like gambling. You might have destroyed your life up until now but you think that this one will make it all worthwhile.''
Keneally is one of six novelists nominated by ``the Premier's posse'', as he calls the selection panel. Amongst the high-profile contenders are J.MCoetzee for Diary of a Bad Year, and Alex Miller who, like Keneally, is a previous double winner of another writing prize, the Miles Franklin award.
``I'm very grateful to have been noticed,'' Keneally said.
``The wonderful thing about prizes is they are a lottery until you win, and then the judges are suddenly the wisest people on Earth. Of course, that isn't the case when you lose.''
Previous winners have included Peter Carey for Theft: A Love Story, and Kate Grenville for The Secret River.
But Keneally believes the best in Australian writing is yet to come, naming ex-rugby player Matt Nable as a young writer to watch.
``Write about what you know,'' he advises. ``Most young writers meet at literary functions and bung on an act and prance around like show ponies, but most of us are from humble origins.
``Just keep at it and try and defeat the empty page. You might get four or five thousand words out and then the horse dies under you but don't worry, you'll know it from the smell.''
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