The Aurealis Awards are Australia’s premier awards for speculative fiction, and this year we are thrilled to see Sandy Bigna and Margot McGovern make the 2025 Shortlist!

BEST CHILDREN’S FICTION
— Little Bones by Sandy Bigna (UQP) – A unique and lyrical verse novel for middle-grade readers that speaks to our childhood joy of collecting small, intriguing objects and creating connections in the most unlikely places.

BEST YOUNG ADULT NOVEL & BEST HORROR NOVEL
— This Stays Between Us by Margot McGovern (Penguin Random House Australia) – called; “Powerful, heartbreaking, hair-raising and absolutely terrifying. This feminist ode to the 90s slasher films is twisty, clever and frightening from beginning to end.”

Congratulations to Sandy and Margot!

The winners will be celebrated at the 2025 Aurealis Awards ceremony as part of GenreCon in Brisbane, taking place on Saturday February 21, 2026 at the Thomas Dixon Centre. Tickets are on sale now.