The winner of the 2011 Text Prize for Young Adult and Children’s Writing is Myke Bartlett, for his adventure novel The Relic, in which mythological creatures invade suburban Perth and threaten the world.

A Perth-born freelance journalist based in Melbourne, Myke Bartlett has won $10,000 and a publishing contract. Bartlett first began his writing career online, publishing several highly successful podcasted novels. His prize-winning novel will be published in August 2012.

From his Melbourne home, Bartlett confessed, ‘I actually wrote The Relic specifically for the Text Prize.

‘A poster advertising the prize has been stuck on the wall above my desk for the past 12 months and I really can’t imagine better motivation for a first time novelist. That The Relic has now actually won the competition seems just a little bit incredible.’

Michael Heyward, Publisher at Text, commented, ‘Text look for books that are different, that take risks, that will entertain readers who are spoiled for choice.

‘Set in and around Perth, The Relic is a fantasy novel that will make its readers smile but may also scare them under the bed. At its heart is a quest to find the secret that will save the planet. Myke Bartlett has assembled a great cast of characters to tell his adventurous tale. We can’t wait to publish The Relic.’

Entries for the 2012 prize open in May 2012. You can find out more about the prize here.

Last year’s winner, The Bridge by Jane Higgins, will be published in August 2011.