Magabala Books is thrilled to announce that on Monday 20 December, Bindi by Kirli Saunders, Homecoming by Elfie Shiosaki and Yornadaiyn Woolagoodja by Yornadaiyn (Donny) Woolagoodja were all shortlisted for the 2022 Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature.

Magabala Publisher Rachel Bin Salleh said:

“Having Homecoming, Bindi and Yornadaiyn Woolagoodja shortlisted for one of Australia’s major literary awards is not only an honour for our creators, it is recognition of the depth of First Nations brilliance in literature. Our need to be told stories is timeless, and the story needs great storytellers. Congratulations to our talented creators, may you continue to show us the way home.” 

A tender and powerful junior fiction verse novel, Bindi has already been shortlisted for eight awards, winning four. In the Adelaide Festival Awards for Literature, Bindi is shortlisted for the Children’s Literature Award.

Homecoming is Elfie’s first book and is a powerful collection of poetry and prose about the women in her family and their strength in the face of colonial protectionist policies. Homecoming was also shortlisted for a 2021 Queensland Literary Award and was a Highly Commended title on the 2022 Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards shortlist. Homecoming is shortlisted for the John Bray Poetry Award.

Yornadaiyn Woolagoodja is a powerful sharing of Yornadaiyn (Donny) Woolagoodja’s culture and life, and was also shortlisted for a 2021 Australian Book Industry Award. Yornadaiyn Woolagoodja is shortlisted in the Non-Fiction category.

The winners will be announced 5 March 2022 during the Adelaide Festival.