Awards and Praise for Short Stories by Tess Merlin
Queensland Literary Awards Finalist 2025
Voting is now open for the Courier Mail People’s Choice Queensland Book of the Year Award. Please take a moment to vote if you feel Red Dirt Blue Lights is worthy! This award is decided by your vote. Voting closes on 16th Sept. Vote here
Judges’ comments:
Set in 1970s rural Queensland around the Indigenous community of Cherbourg, a young and inexperienced policewoman juggles her responsibilities with her sensitivities towards the harsh realities of discrimination, racism and authoritarianism. Well researched and drawing on the real-life experiences of the author, this novella received close scrutiny and approbation by Aboriginal Elder Uncle Eric Law AM.
2nd Place 2023
Longlist 2023 Gold Coast Writers Short Story Competition ‘A Street in Your Town’