Lech Blaine

I was incredibly honoured to win The Age Book of the Year for Australian Gospel. The judges wrote: “The book is hysterically funny and deeply poignant. Lech Blaine is an exceptionally gifted storyteller, alive to all the nuances of character and the circumstances that shape the lives of people.”

You can read more about it here. Unfortunately, I still haven’t learned what to do with either my face or my hands during photo shoots, as proven by the front page of The Age the following day.

I dedicated both the book and this particular victory to my mother Lenore. She bequeathed me with a sweet tooth, hazel green eyes, flat feet, bad hand-eye coordination, and an addiction to literature. I accepted the prize on the first night of Melbourne Writers Festival. Here is an extract from my speech:

“Dad used to say I’d been kissed on the dick by good luck. He was right. What a godsend as a writer to be the son of Lenore and Tom Blaine. Australian Gospel wouldn’t exist without the sacrifices that they made as foster carers. It definitely wouldn’t exist without the love of reading and writing Mum passed onto me.

Tonight, she is the real winner. Thanks to everyone who has read the book and helped to spread The Gospel of Lenore. I don’t take your support for granted.”