Mary Rokonadravu is a story writer from Fiji. She was the first Fijian to win the Pacific regional Commonwealth Short Story Prize twice in 2015 and 2022.
Mary Rokonadravu | |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Fijian |
| Occupation | Story writer |
| Notable work | Famished Eels (short story)
|
| Awards | Commonwealth Short Story Prize (2015) & (2022) |
Career edit
Rokonadravu was the first Fijian to win the Pacific regional Commonwealth Short Story Prize for her short story "Famished Eels" in 2015.[1][2][3] She was also shortlisted for the same award in 2017.[4][5]
She has directed a prison writing programme at Suva's seven correctional facilities for four years and in 2008, she published shedding Silences, the Pacific's first anthology of prison writing.[6] In 2017, Rokonadravu launched a writing competition under the banner of the Fiji Media Watch Group.[7][8]
Rokonadravu was again awarded with the Commonwealth Short Story Prize for her story The Nightwatch in 2022.[9]
Awards edit
| Year | Title | Work | Result | Presented by | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Commonwealth Short Story Prize | Famished Eels | Won | Commonwealth Foundation | [1][9] |
| 2017 | Commonwealth Short Story Prize | The Big, Insignificant History of Peter Abraham Stanhope | Nominated | Commonwealth Foundation | [9][10] |
| 2022 | Commonwealth Short Story Prize | The Nightwatch | Won | Commonwealth Foundation | [9][11] |
Books edit
- Famished Eels — A short story narrating inter-family and regional relations.
- Sepia[12]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b Flood, Alison (April 28, 2015). "First-time Fijian author scoops award in Commonwealth short story competition". The Guardian.
- ^ "FOCUS: Mary's Famished Eels Story Tops Region". Fiji Sun. April 30, 2015.
- ^ Stolz, Ellen (June 26, 2015). "Local wins writers award". FBC News.
- ^ Mere, Satakala (April 8, 2017). "Mary – A Fiction Writer Inspired By Real Life". Fiji Sun.
- ^ "Shortlist Announced: 2017 Commonwealth Short Story Prize". The Bahamas Weekly. April 4, 2017.
- ^ "Call for Fiji's prison rehabilitation program to engage better with community". ABC Radio Australia. July 20, 2020.
- ^ Satakala, Mere (May 6, 2017). "Writing Competition For Press Freedom Day". Fiji Sun.
- ^ "Writing competition for Media Day". The Fiji Times. May 3, 2017.
- ^ a b c d "Fijian writer Rokonadravu wins Commonwealth Short Story Prize Pacific category". Books+Publishing. Retrieved 2022-05-23.
- ^ Obi-Young, Otosirieze (April 4, 2017). "The 2017 Commonwealth Short Story Prize Shortlist Announced". brittle paper.
- ^ Tadulala, Koroi (May 23, 2022). "Renowned Fijian author wins Short Story Prize". FBC News.
- ^ Morris, Paula (July 27, 2017). "Book of the week: an essay by Paula Morris on race and literature". The Spin Off.
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