On the road to literary success. . .

Oct 12, 2004

Raw, direct, passionate and compelling.

This is how critics are describing the novel ‘Road Story’ by former University of Wollongong Creative Arts student, Julienne van Loon, who has just won the 2004 The Australian/Vogel Literary Award for authors 35 years and under.

Judges were unanimous in their decision to award Julienne with one of Australia’s most prestigious literary accolades.

Julienne received a $20,000 prize and publication by Allen and Unwin.

As the Vogel website suggests, her novel concerns a young woman fleeing from a traumatic event and finding her life temporarily suspended in limbo. She takes a bed and a job in a redneck roadhouse and her journey begins.

‘Road Story’ reveals the tenuousness of love between friends and the dark pervasiveness of addiction. It is tense, vital and dynamic, according to the critics.

Julienne completed her Bachelor of Creative Arts (Honours) in 1991 and her Master of Arts (Honours) in 1993 at UOW.

Her work has been published in a variety of journals in Australia including TEXT, Mattoid and Verandah and has been broadcast on ABC radio.

She currently lives in Perth where she is a lecturer in the faculty of Media, Society and Culture at Curtin University of Technology.

Jennifer Kremmer, also a Vogel winner, is currently studying a Doctor of Creative Arts at UOW.

-RP