The Ned Kelly Awards entry criteria and categories

Best Crime Fiction

This award is for the best crime fiction work by an Australian author, published during the Judging Period. This award category encompasses a broad definition of crime fiction including thrillers, suspense, domestic, spy, action, adventure and mysteries.

Best debut crime Fiction 

This award is for the best debut crime fiction by an Australian author, published during the Judging Period, which is a debut work by the author. Debut takes into account any previous works, fiction or non-fiction by the author that have been published including in an alternative genre / category OR under a pseudonym including as self-published works. This award category encompasses a broad definition of crime fiction including thrillers, suspense, domestic, spy, action, adventure and mysteries.

Best True Crime 

This award is for any non-fiction work on a crime related theme by an Australian author published as a book during the Judging Period. This award category encompasses, though is not limited to, non-fiction works relating to true crime, historical crime, crime-related biography or autobiography.

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 2024 Ned Kelly Awards are closed.

A book may only be entered in one of the above categories.

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:

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

  • To be eligible for the Debut Crime Fiction category, the book must be the first 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.

  • Ebook submissions are preferred. Accepted ebook formats are epub and mobi only. Please submit in both formats to ensure compatibility with the widest range of e-readers for our judges.

  • Audiobooks can also be submitted but only in addition to either an Ebook or a physical book submission.

  • Physical books can be submitted if ebook versions are not available. If submitting physical books, we require four (4) copies of each book to be posted as soon as possible but within seven days after entering the awards or the entry will not be accepted. The mailing address for physical books will be included in the entry confirmation form.

  • 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, 2023) to the last day of February in the award year (eg 29 February, 2024).

  • 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 form link.

  • Do not submit ebooks in WORD or PDF format - neither are valid ebook formats.

  • Gifting books via Amazon or similar will not work as we need to distribute to multiple judges - you will need to attach your mobi or epub file to the submission. Audiobook submissions need to provide a shareable link.

  • Entries for the 2024 Ned Kelly Awards open 15th March 2024 and close 15th April 2024.

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

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

2024 submissions closed on April 15,2024

We are now judging. Shortlists expected August 2024. Winners September 2024.