The inaugural Stella Prize has been awarded to Carrie Tiffany for her second novel,

Mateship with Birds has been a rising star in the award season this year, already being longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction (formerly the Orange prize) on top of this amazing achievement.

In his interview with Tiffany, Gregory Day writes:

“…Mateship with Birds is a highly aesthetic experience, which in itself is something of a juxtaposition with the stereotypically ad hoc nature of the backblocks culture it presents. But in the heightened pastoral realities of Carrie Tiffany, nothing is taken for granted.”

It’s been a pleasure to watch the development of the Stella as a major new literary prize celebrating great books by Australian women and their announcement tonight reflects so much hard work and love from everyone involved. Congratulations not just to Carrie, but also to the shortlisted authors, as well as the hard-working team and volunteers who put it all together.

For more information about the award please visit