The Inky Awards are Australia’s only teenage choice book awards. The longlists have just been announced for the Golden Inky, for an Australian author, and Silver, for an international author. Melbourne author and poet Lia Hills’s young adult novel The Beginner’s Guide to Living is in the running for gold, while Ten Mile River, by New York author Paul Griffin, is on the silver longlist.

‘Lia Hills’s first novel is beautifully crafted and doesn’t shy away from exploring first love, sex and drugs. Spending time in Will’s head makes for an engaging read and Hills’ talent for credible dialogue and dramatic understatement is spot on, as she picks apart the complexities of a young man grappling with not just grief, but the realities of life.’ Frances Atkinson, Sunday Age

‘A fantastic debut young adult novel about two teenagers living tough on the streets of New York. With an arresting style that makes use of street dialogue, Griffin explores issues of friendship, the brotherhood of the streets and how you can change your destiny by taking tough decisions.’ Sunday Telegraph

Pick up a copy of these two gutsy young adult debut novels, and get stuck in. The shortlists will be announced at www.insideadog.com.au on October 9.

Well done Lia and Paul!

Lia Hills has had a busy time of late—earlier this month her novel was shortlisted for both the Victorian and Queensland Premier’s Awards, in the young adult fiction category.