Bundyi Publishing is thrilled to announce that the winner of the inaugural Bundyi Writing Prize is Shannon Barnes, for her mixed-genre novel Strangelands.
The judging panel consisting of Dr Anita Heiss (Publisher At Large), Ben Ball (Publishing Director, S&S) and Bianca Valentino (consultant editor) were impressed with the standard of entries, but all felt that Strangelands was a standout manuscript.
The judges admired Strangelands as a bold and original work that blends truth-telling and intergenerational trauma with a contemporary political backdrop and elements of the supernatural. Its visceral emotional depth and immersive language powerfully convey the enduring impacts of colonisation and the Stolen Generations, while exploring identity, land, and cultural resilience through a layered, multifaceted lens.
Publisher at Large, Anita Heiss said, ‘Strangelands is a gripping read from the first page, and the blending of genres – combining stark realism with hints of the supernatural – give the novel a unique place within Australian literature. Finding new voices and filling gaps in the literary landscape is exactly what we want to be doing with Bundyi as a First Nations imprint, and the reason we have also acquired the world rights to the Strangelands, which will be published in early 2027.’
On winning the prize, Shannon Barnes said, ‘I am honoured to be awarded the prize for 2025 and offer my sincere thanks to the judges for extending me this honour. The Bundyi Writing Prize is not just a platform that offers opportunity for emerging writers but also a safe place for First Nation stories to be told. Anita Heiss is a trailblazer and I am thrilled to be able to work with her.’
‘I thank the judges for reading Strangelands through a culturally and politically sensitive lens and with an understanding my book, which like our existence, weaves between two (physical) worlds, a spiritual realm that provides us with our strength and layered between these are the struggles faced in life. The book was a cathartic write for me and its storyline has played out in my mind long before words reached a page.’
Ben Ball the Publishing Director at Simon & Schuster added ‘We’re thrilled to find a voice as fresh, challenging and exciting as Shannon’s for the first Bundyi prize. The calibre of entries was remarkable, an exciting snapshot of First Nations fiction and a terrific validation of Anita’s vision for Bundyi.’
About Shannon Barnes:
Shannon is a proud Ngiyampaa Wangaapuwan woman. She is a writer, creative, and successful businesswoman, founder of Boomalli Consulting. Shannon is a devoted single mother of four, lives on Tubba Gah Wiradjuri Country (Dubbo), works across Country, and continues to be inspired by her family, culture and community.
About Bundyi:
Bundyi, a Wiradyuri word meaning ‘to share with me’, focuses on cultivating First Nations talent in the industry by publishing First Nations authors, edited and designed by First Nations people. In her role as Publisher at Large, Anita Heiss is commissioning across fiction and non-fiction.