Wow. Perfections just won the Australian Shadows Award for Best Novel. I have no words . . . well, almost none. Hey, I’m a writer. If I had absolutely no words, it would mean I was dead or something, right? As you can see, though, they are not good words I am having right now. 🙂

The trophy is marvellously macabre this year: a replica of a human skull, emblazoned with the AHWA logo, mounted on a wooden stand and engraved with the name of the winner — all hand made by a Melbourne company by the name of Nightshade FX whose other wares I might have to investigate in the none too distant future. It’s going to look amazing next to my cat skeleton!

It comes as a genuine surprise as well. The announcements were made on Facebook a short time ago — welcome to the future — and I tuned in fully expecting the see either Lee Battersby or Jason  Nahrung announced the winner. (Hoping for Jason, naturally. With all conceivable digits crossed. Sorry, Lee, but I’m sure you understand.) So it’s all quite delightful, really. That’s all I have. Delightful. Gah. I’m sure the all wicked words will come back tomorrow.

The full list of very worthy winners are as follows:

.
NOVEL:

• Kirstyn McDermott, Perfections (Xoum)

LONG FICTION:

• Kaaron Warren, “Sky” (Through Splintered Walls, Twelfth Planet Press)*

SHORT FICTION:

• Martin Livings, “Birthday Suit” (Living with the Dead, Dark Prints Press)

COLLECTION:

• Kaaron Warren, Through Splintered Walls (Twelfth Planet Press)*

EDITED PUBLICATION:

• Surviving the End, ed Craig Bezant (Dark Prints Press)

.
* Pro Tip: If you haven’t yet read Through Splintered Walls by Kaaron Warren then you are totally missing out on some of the best — and I mean best — Australian gothic fiction being written today. Get thee to Twelfth Planet Press and procure thyself a copy forthwith. And if you won’t take my word for it, look: the damn book won TWO awards tonight! Go! Procure! Read! You’ll never want to go near candied almonds again, and that’s all I’m saying.