Text Publishing has announced a new writing prize on Australia’s literary landscape: The Text Young Adult Prize.

The prize aims to discover more wonderful new books for Young Adult readers, by Australian and New Zealand writers. Both published and unpublished writers of all ages are eligible to enter the prize with works of fiction or non-fiction. Submissions must be received by 31 July 2008.

Judged by a panel of editors from Text Publishing, the winning book will be announced on the evening of Saturday 30 August, at the Melbourne Writers’ Festival. The winner will receive a publishing contract with Text and a $10,000 advance against royalties.

The Publisher at Text, Michael Heyward, hopes this award “will unearth some brilliant new writing for teenagers, which we can take to the world as we have done for many adult writers on our list”. He launched the prize at the Children’s Book Council of Australia conference in Melbourne on 4 May.

Entry details can be downloaded from www.textpublishing.com.au