The Ned Kelly Awards entry criteria and categories

Best International Crime Fiction

This award is for the best international crime fiction work published in Australia by a non-Australian resident or citizen during the Judging Period. This award category encompasses a broad definition of crime fiction, including thrillers, suspense, domestic, spy, action, adventure and mysteries.

Note: Submissions for the 2025 Ned Kelly Awards opened on 15 March 2025. (And will close 15 April 2025.)

A book may only be entered in one category.

The judging period is for new work published in the 12 months ending February of the award year. Books published 1 March onwards are not eligible until the following year.

Please read the entry criteria below before making a submission.

The Ned Kelly Awards Entry Criteria

To be eligible, entries must meet the following requirements:

• To be eligible, entries must meet the following requirements:

  • The author must be an Australian by birth or citizenship OR the author’s principal residence must be in Australia.

  • To be eligible for the Debut Crime Fiction category, the book must be the first book of any genre (fiction or non-fiction) published by the author.

  • Any Australian publishers or individual authors can submit entries to the awards provided the book is relevant to the appropriate award.

  • When submitting, publishers and / or individual authors must have a current membership of the Australian Crime Writers Association. You can join here.

  • Non-Australian publishers can enter books provided the author meets the Australian residency / citizenship criteria. (Also see Best International Crime Fiction category below.)

  • The Best International Crime Fiction category is open to non-Australian resident / citizen authors and all publishers, provided the work has been published in Australia during the Judging Period.

  • Digital book submissions are preferred. An epub format is mandatory with the options of including additional mobi format or an audio link.

  • If submitting physical books, we require four (4) copies of each book be posted to this address: The Book Orchard, 166 Main Street, Bairnsdale, Victoria, 3875. Please send as soon as possible but within seven days after entering the awards. The mailing address will also appear on the entry confirmation.

    Reminder: Physical books must be mailed within 7 days of entering.

  • Publishing period: Eligible books must be the first edition of the work, published within the specified dates of the judging period – from March 1 of the preceding year (eg 1 March, 2024) to the last day of February in the award year (eg 28 February, 2025).

  • An entry fee of $55 applies to the submission of each title. Each title must be entered via a separate form.

  • Complete each submission via the relevant award category link.

  • Do not submit digital books in WORD or PDF format - neither are valid formats. If submitting an audio file it must be ‘shareable’ between judges.

  • Gifting books via Amazon or similar will not work as we need to distribute to multiple judges.

  • Entries for the 2025 Ned Kelly Awards are set to open on 15 March 2025 and close on 15 April 2025.

  • Entries must be received before 11.59pm Australian Eastern Time on the closing date.

  • The awards are decided by guest judges and the Australian Crime Writers Association Committee.

2025 entries opened 15 March, 2025

We look forward to your entires!