Frequently asked questions
How do I nominate a novel/short story for an Aurealis Award and where do I send my nomination?
There are two methods: either use the online nomination form or download the printed form PDF (112k) and return to the Aurealis Awards Director via email director@aurealisawards.com or post to Aurealis Awards, P.O.Box 1394, Toowong QLD 4066.
You must supply one copy of the nominated work to each judge in the relevant division/s. Once you have submitted a nomination form the Director will supply delivery addresses for the relevant judges.
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Where do I get the nomination form?
Click to use the online nomination form or download the printed form PDF (112k).
Where do I find the judges' addresses?
The Aurealis Awards Director will supply the judges' postal addresses after the nomination has been processed.
Who can nominate a novel/short story for an Aurealis Award?
Anyone can nominate a novel/short story using the nomination form provided, however the nominator then undertakes to supply copies of the nominated work to the relevant judges.
Are there any restrictions on what novels/short stories can be entered?
The author must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident, and the novel/short story must have been first published in English in the period under consideration (16 November 2006 to 31 October 2007)
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In which division should I enter a work?
You may categorise the work as science fiction, fantasy, horror, young adult or children's (8-12 years). This information will be recorded on the list of nominated works.
You are encouraged to enter the work in as many divisions as you feel are suitable. It is possible for a work to be a finalist and win in more than one division. If the work is entered in multiple divisions, a copy must be sent to each judge in each relevant division.
The definition of novel and short story is left to the discretion of the judging panel in each division.
I think that a young adult/children's novel/short story is science fiction (or fantasy or horror). Should I enter it in the science fiction (or fantasy or horror) division as well as the young adult/children's division?
Yes. While the young adult and children's divisions encompass science fiction, fantasy and horror, a work may also be considered within the relevant genre division as well. In this case, you undertake to supply copies of the nominated work to the relevant judges of that division as well.
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What is the cut-off date for 2007 nominations and the judges receiving copies of a nominated work?
Nomination forms AND copies of the nominated works must be received by the relevant judges by 8.00pm Wednesday, 31 October 2007. (This date also applies to nominations for the Peter McNamara Convenors' Award).
Works published after the cut-off date may be considered the following year.
My work is due to be published close to the cut-off date. That doesn't give the judges much time to read it. Will it be disadvantaged?
To expedite the judging process, we recommend you send proofs or advance copies of works scheduled for publication in October. Eligible works should be sent to the judges as soon as possible. The earlier the judges receive works, the more time they will have to give them the consideration they deserve. Works submitted in proof or advance copy form will be eligible so long as the Aurealis Awards Director or a judge on the relevant panel sights a final published version by Friday 30 November 2007.
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My novel/short story has been E-published. Is it eligible?
Yes. Works published in electronic form are eligible. Wherever possible,printed copies of the nominated works should be submitted to judges for consideration. When multiple printed copies of the work/s are difficult or expensive to obtain, nominators (particularly individual authors or small presses) may be permitted to submit electronic versions of the works. Electronic submissions may be accepted for short stories up to 7,500 words and will be at the discretion of Awards Director. Electronic versions must be the final, published text and proof of publication may be sought before an electronic submission is forwarded to judges. Contact the Awards Director at director@aurealisawards.com to request electronic submission.
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I'm an independent publisher. All these free copies are cutting into my profits. What can I do?
In the case of small press publications, you may contact the convenor/s of the relevant panel/s to arrange for a single copy of the work to be shared among the judges. This will be done at the discretion of the panel convenor/s.
For short stories up to 7,500 words, electronic versions of nominated works may be permitted at the discretion of the Awards Director. Contact the Awards Director at director@aurealisawards.com to discuss electronic submission.
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What if I think a novel/short story has been overlooked?
Nominate it.
Nominations are encouraged from publishers, authors, academics, booksellers, librarians and all readers of speculative fiction. Nominators must undertake to provide a copy of the nominated work/s to each of the judges in the relevant division/s.
Click to use the online nomination form or downloaded a printed form PDF (112k) and return.
Anyone may contact the Aurealis Awards Director to suggest that a work be considered, and every effort will be made to follow this up with that work's author/publisher. However, note that suggesting a work be considered does not constitute a valid nomination.
Email your suggestions to director@aurealisawards.com or post it to
Aurealis Awards, P.O.Box 1394, Toowong QLD 4066.
Why do I have to nominate a work? Why don't the judges just read everything published?
Speculative fiction is an increasingly popular genre, and many hundreds of eligible works are now published in Australia each year. It would be unfair to expect our volunteer judges to canvass all eligible works without the support of a nomination process. A formal nomination process ensures that we consider as many eligible works as possible.
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Who or what is the Peter McNamara Convenors' Award?
The Peter McNamara Convenors' Award may be given at the discretion of the convenors of the individual judging panels. This is for a particular achievement in speculative fiction or related areas in the relevant year, but may also take into account achievements over a number of years. This award may be given to a person for their service to our community in promoting and encouraging speculative fiction. It may also be for a non-fiction work, a collection or anthology, an artwork, an event or workshop, a computer game or a body of work that brings credit and/or attention to the speculative fiction genre in that year, such as a television or film script.
Who can nominate something/someone for the Peter McNamara Convenors' Award?
Nominations from the speculative fiction community are encouraged. Send your nomination to the Aurealis Awards Director. Convenors may also nominate candidates for the award. The convenors of the judging panel select the winner.
Email your nomination to director@aurealisawards.com or post it to
Aurealis Awards, P.O.Box 1394, Toowong QLD 4066.
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Is the Peter McNamara Convenors' Award the same as the Peter McNamara Achievement Award?
No. Sorry to confuse you! There are two awards in Australian speculative fiction that bear Peter McNamara's name.
The Peter McNamara Achievement Award is an annual award given to a professional in the Australian SF field in remembrance of the life and contribution of Peter Trevor McNamara. It is administered by Robert N. Stephenson and is usually presented each year at the Australian National SF Convention. For more information, go here.
The Peter McNamara Convenors' Award is a category of the Aurealis Awards recently renamed in honour of Peter McNamara. The recipient is selected by Convenors of the Aurealis Awards judging panels.
I want to find out about a past finalist/winner. Where is this information?
Here it is. WORD (1.1Mb) / PDF (712k)
Where can I get a copy of the Aurealis Award medallion logo?
The Aurealis Award finalist/winner medallion logo is free, and we encourage its use by publishers and Aurealis Award finalists and winners. Contact the Aurealis Awards Director, who will supply an electronic version suitable for use on the web, for printed cover art or
for publicity purposes.
Email director@aurealisawards.com or write to
Aurealis Awards, P.O.Box 1394, Toowong QLD 4066.
Publishers may refer to the fact that a work has been a finalist for or won an Aurealis Award in promotional material for that work. It should be noted however that it is the work that is listed for or wins an Aurealis Award and not the author. This point should be reflected in any
promotional copy produced. In promotional material, where possible, the phrase "Aurealis Award, Australia's Premier Speculative Fiction Awards" be used.
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Who can be a judge?
Anyone who loves the speculative fiction genre and reads widely. Anyone who is willing to read all the works nominated and make notes on each one. Anyone who is able to work with the other judges to reach a consensus.
If you are interested in becoming a judge please fill out the Expression of Interest Form and submit it to us. WORD (136k) / PDF (104k)
How do you pick the judges?
All Aurealis Awards judges are volunteers. We seek a broad representation of the speculative fiction community to be judges, and panels are selected according to experience, availability and suitability for the overall panel mix.
What sort of workload is involved in being a judge?
A judge's workload can vary widely depending on the division. For example, in 2006 the fantasy category (the largest) comprised 22 novels and 139 short stories. In contrast, the horror category had only 7 novels nominated, but 150 short stories. Because fantasy and science fiction are the largest categories, they have been split into two separate judging panels, one for novels and one for short stories.
While judges volunteer their time and effort, they are welcome to keep the copies of nominated works sent to them. They also receive complimentary tickets to the Aurealis Awards Ceremony.
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I'm not happy about something. What can I do about it?
We welcome your feedback. We are constantly striving to improve, and each year we try to incorporate feedback from the speculative fiction community into the Aurealis Awards process.
In response to comments made over the past twelve months, here are some recent changes:
Judging panels:
We've increased the number of judges to generate a broader perspective. The new expression of interest process for judges ensures a diverse and representative selection from across the community.
Online nomination form:
We are trying to make the nomination process as convenient as possible. The new online nomination form is designed to expedite the process. We have tried to address feedback from nominators to make the form more user-friendly, especially for anthology and magazine publishers.
Website:
Our website has been redesigned to be as simple and user-friendly as possible, while delivering more information than ever.
Everyone in the Australian speculative fiction community has a stake in the Aurealis Awards, and these changes mean that everyone can learn about the awards and participate in the process.
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I'd like to help with the Aurealis Awards. What do I do?
We would love to have you on board. We are all volunteers, and there are many opportunities to be involved with the awards during the year and on the night of the ceremony. Please contact the Aurealis Awards Director for more information.
Email director@aurealisawards.com or write to
Aurealis Awards, P.O.Box 1394, Toowong QLD 4066.
Does Aurealis magazine have anything to do with the Aurealis Awards?
Chimaera Publications, the publisher of Aurealis magazine, founded the Aurealis Awards in 1995. Chimaera continues to support the awards, but the awards are not organised or controlled by Aurealis magazine or its staff
The Aurealis Awards are independently administered by Fantastic Queensland, a community-based non-profit organisation which exists to support and promote Australian speculative fiction.
Each year, the Aurealis Awards are determined by independent panels of volunteer judges drawn from diverse areas of the speculative fiction community.
Where can I go for further information?
Contact the Aurealis Awards Director via email director@aurealisawards.com or write to Aurealis Awards, P.O.Box 1394, Toowong QLD 4066
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