Literary Fellowship announced
Julia Leigh, author of the acclaimed novel The Hunter, is UNSW's Literary Fellow for 2010.
Published on the 27 Apr 2010
Sydney novelist Julia Leigh has been awarded a Literary Fellowship by the University of New South Wales.
The UNSW Literary Fellowship, worth $15,000, is awarded every two years to a distinguished writer who would benefit from time at the University, and is willing to contribute to university life.
"I'm honoured and delighted to receive this fellowship," said Leigh. "I'm looking forward to engaging with the broader university community: there are areas of special interest that I'm curious about and it would be wonderful to cross paths with people who can point me in the right direction."
Leigh's first novel, The Hunter, received international acclaim and won numerous awards. Her second book, Disquiet, was published in 2008. Leigh has taught fiction writing at Barnard College, Columbia University, and was mentored in the Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative by American author Toni Morrison.
Leigh will work on a new novel during her time at UNSW and will continue developing several screenplays. She will also deliver lectures in fiction writing and screenwriting to UNSW students.
Previous UNSW Literary Fellowship recipients include Linda Jaivin, Frank Moorehouse, Alex Buzo, John Derum, Oodgeroo Noonuccal (formerly Kath Walker), David Foster, Les Murray, Sue Woolfe, Kate Grenville and Mandy Sayer.
The University's volunteer U Committee sponsors the UNSW Literary Fellowship.
Media contact: Fran Strachan | 9385 8732 | 04294 16070 | fran.strachan@unsw.edu.au