Express Media and Scribe Publications are thrilled to announce the 2017 Scribe Nonfiction Prize for Young Writers has been awarded to Lur Alghurabi.

Alghurabi’s ‘Letters from the Grave’ impressed the judges with its skilful weaving of personal and family history of life in Iraq and many countries afterwards on a journey to Australia.

Lur said, ‘It’s a privilege that I am even able to write, let alone that my writing be recognised, enjoyed and validated. In “Letters from the Grave”, my family and I are constantly, physically and emotionally, looking for a home. To think that eventually I have found a home in writing, and that this home is a warm, welcoming space that will encourage and celebrate voices of colour, I could not be happier.’

Scribe senior editor Julia Carlomagno said ‘Letters From the Grave’ is ‘An urgent and deeply moving piece about the author’s family escape from Saddam’s Iraq and the search for somewhere to call home. Thoughtfully presented in its interweaving of literary and visual material, it is a powerfully affecting testament to the resilience of one family’s spirit.’

Lur wins $3000 and an editorial mentorship with Scribe to develop her work.

Toby Fehily was highly commended for his piece ‘It’s Not an Aircraft’, an engaging work of biography that explores ufology in Australia through the story of Edgar Jarrold, the founder of the country’s first civilian UFO group.

Toby said, ‘I was grateful for the prize before I even entered. Just knowing about its existence gave me a goal to work towards. Being highly commended is the extra kick I need to take the next step on a path Scribe and Express Media have already helped pave.’

The prize was announced at an exclusive masterclass at the Scribe office on Thursday 23 November, with the 11 shortlisted writers learning from writers Anna Krien, Jill Stark and Jeff Sparrow.

We congratulate Lur and Toby and look forward to seeing their literary careers develop.

Photo by Jonne Revanche