Book Links Mentorship 2026
The Book Links Mentorship is open to all members of Book Links residing in Australia.
Applicants were invited to submit a synopsis and the first two chapters or first 6000 words of a work of fiction for junior fiction, middle-grade or YA readers, or two picture book manuscripts.
Book Links Mentorship 2026 Shortlist and Judge’s Comments – Kristy Bushnell
It was an extremely tough job finalising a longlist, let alone a shortlist for the 2026 Book Links Mentorship. This year there were twice the number of entries, and they were all of a compellingly high standard. As a result, instead of longlisting eight entries, 10 were longlisted and from that list, six have been shortlisted.
The variation of style, genre and subject matter, as well as the array of concepts and characters was impressive and exciting to read – everyone’s imaginations are running hot! From prose to verse for either junior fiction, middle grade or young adults, to prose and rhyming picture books, genres of social realism, magical realism, fantasy, historical fiction and science fiction were all represented.
Themes of family, friendship, nature, identity and survival were popular, however it was the quirky and fresh concepts, characters whose voices were both strong and unique, or plots with fast-paced action and excellent dialogue that made entries stand out. While the entries that have made the shortlist all have room for further development, they resonated long after the final page was turned. It’s these literary and artistic qualities that leave a lasting impression and a feeling that you’ve met the characters or experienced the action in real life, not just on the page, that has awarded them a place on the shortlist. Congratulations to the following 2026 Book Links Mentorship shortlisted authors:
- Katrina Carey The Element of Avery MG
- Caitlin Hooley Prophesied MG
- Angela Liesegang If I Were a Pie PB
- Ali Rutstein The Endling MG
- Tenille Seow The Book Magician JF
- Di Taylor Josephine’s Journey YA
The winners will be announced on Saturday 17 October.
Longlist Book Links Mentorship 2026
- Katrina Carey The Element of Avery MG
- Melissa Elk The Night Budgie PB
- Caitlin Hooley Prophesied MG
- Alastair Jones Human & Lupusad: Of Men & Wolves YA
- Angela Liesegang If I Were a Pie PB
- Liane McDermott Fractured YA
- Ryley McEwan The Colour of Our Clouds PB
- Ali Rutstein The Endling MG
- Tenille Seow The Book Magician JF
- Di Taylor Josephine’s Journey YA
