We’re delighted to announce the successful applicants to our 2023 Mentoring program for emerging writers from Indigenous or culturally diverse backgrounds! 

This year’s winners are Tamara Haque, Hiromi Matsuoka, Cherry Zheng, Annie McCann, Guan Un, Andrew John, Teneale Lavender, Michelle Huynh and Celine Eigner. These talented writers will have the chance to work under the guidance of 2022 World Fantasy Award Finalist Eugen Bacon.

Eugen says: “I am grateful for the astounding number of applications we received for this amazing initiative. I enjoyed the mix of form and genre: short stories, essays, prose poetry, poetry, novels… I wish I had this opportunity when I was starting out as a writer, someone who looked and really saw, who considered my work seriously.

“The choice of final participants was not easy… To all who took time to submit an application, please believe in your work, and I hope you’ll find an opportunity to hone your projects and find a good home for them.”