What a thrill it was to receive not one but two award nods at the ACT Literary Awards on 3 July, run so beautifully by Marion Writers here in Canberra.
It was special to receive a highly commended for Flora: Australia's Most Curious Plants (NLA Publishing) and then, at the end of the night - to my shock and awe - the Marion Halligan Award. I'm still blown away and so deeply honoured by this nod.
'...The Marion Halligan Award recognises work that demonstrates uniqueness, literary excellence and surpasses genre.
With sincere thanks to Marion's family for their consideration of this award. The work selected resonated strongly, they shared.
Marion delighted in her garden and loved sitting out there with a wine observing all the stunning flowers and plants. Her writing was full of references to nature and beautiful connections and conversations that went on in that space.
She would have absolutely beamed at the sight of her grandson Edgar reading Flora, tackling the difficult words and enjoying browsing the gorgeous pictures and interesting facts.
The recipient of the 2025 Marion Halligan Award is Tania McCartney for Flora...'
Huge thanks to Marion Writers and to Marion's family for this amazing award - it means the world to me. And truly lovely to give Marion's grandson, Eddie, a hug on the night. Thanks, too, to Emma Batchelor and Katy Mutton for the warm hugs as struggled to hold it together under those spotlights.
Flora would not have been possible without my publisher, Lauren Smith, as well as Amelia Hartney, Madeleine Warburton, Tricia Fitzgerald and scientific editor Kath Kovac. Also enduring thanks to artsACT for the grant that helped make Flora happen.
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