Heiss wins Victorian Indigenous literary award

Wiradjuri author Anita Heiss.

VICTORIA: Popular writer Anita Heiss has won the $20,000 Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for Indigenous Writing for her memoir Am I Black Enough for You?

Ms Heiss won the award from a shortlist that included Tracker contributor Nicole Watson’s The Boundary and Jeanine Leane’s Purple Threads (Both novels were past winners of the David Unaipon award for unpublished Indigenous writers).

Ms Heiss has written 11 books – both fiction and non-fiction – and is best known for her series of chick-lit titles including Not Meeting Mr Right and Manhattan Dreaming.

Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu said the literary awards aimed to encourage a commitment to reading.

“The Award for Indigenous Writing honours the important contribution made by Indigenous writers to Australia’s literary and cultural landscape,’ Mr Baillieu said.

“Congratulations to all the writers shortlisted in this category and to our winner Anita Heiss. This award celebrates excellence in writing and is a fitting way to mark Indigenous Literacy Day 2012.”