JUST DESERTS THESIS VOLUME 2 JUST DESERTS: RECOGNISING THE DAVITT AWARDS AND AUSTRALIAN WOMEN’S CRIME WRITING An exegesis submitted as part of a thesis for the award of Doctor of Philosophy in Creative Writing at the University of Adelaide Thesis title: ‘Just Deserts: Reading, Writing and Rewarding Australian Women’s Crime Fiction’ The thesis comprises: Volume 1: Original novel, ‘Angel Port’ Volume 2: Accompanying exegesis, ‘Just Deserts: Recognising the Davitt Awards and Australian Women’s Crime Writing’ Jessie Byrne Department of English and Creative Writing School of Humanities University of Adelaide 24 August 2019 1 JUST DESERTS To my mother Molly Veronica Byrne (nee McGavisk) As the first Labor woman elected to parliament in South Australia, she is a trailblazer. As a person dedicated to the betterment of the lives of others, she is an inspiration. As a mother and grandmother, she is unsurpassed. And in memory of my father Sylvester Aris Byrne A loving father, a trade unionist committed to ensuring the rights of workers, and a host to all who came to his doorstep. 2 JUST DESERTS CONTENTS THESIS ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................................ 5 THESIS DECLARATION ..................................................................................................................... 6 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................................................... 7 Chapter 1: THE INCITING INCIDENT: INTRODUCTION............................................................................. 9 MULTIPLE SUSPECTS (THE CREATIVE WORK AND THE EXEGESIS) .................................................... 10 ‘Angel Port’.................................................................................................................................... 10 The Exegesis .................................................................................................................................. 11 VARIOUS LEADS (METHODOLOGY) ................................................................................................... 11 Hitting the Hard Pavements (Primary Research) .......................................................................... 12 Back at the Gritty Desk (Secondary Research) .............................................................................. 12 SUCCESSFUL RATIOCINATION? (CONCLUSION) ................................................................................ 13 Chapter 2: PERPETRATORS AND ACCOMPLICES: A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE DAVITT AWARDS ............. 14 ESTABLISHMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF THE AWARDS ................................................................. 14 ONGOING TRANSFORMATION OF THE AWARDS .............................................................................. 17 Active identification and pursuit of eligible books ....................................................................... 19 Growth of Best Adult Novel longlists ............................................................................................ 19 Introduction of new award categories ......................................................................................... 21 Best young adult and children’s fiction......................................................................................... 24 Best non-fiction ............................................................................................................................. 27 Readers’ Choice ............................................................................................................................. 28 Best Debut Book ........................................................................................................................... 28 Acceptance of self-published books and e-books ............................................................................ 28 Introduction of shortlists .................................................................................................................. 29 CONCLUSION ..................................................................................................................................... 30 Chapter 3: THE SPOILS OF CRIME: IMPACT OF THE DAVITT AWARDS .................................................. 31 VALIDATION AND CONFIDENCE FOR WRITERS ................................................................................. 31 IMPACTS ON THE GENRE .................................................................................................................. 32 Quality of the writing .................................................................................................................... 32 Broadening the crime genre ......................................................................................................... 33 PUBLIC AND INDUSTRY RECOGNITION ............................................................................................. 33 Mainstream media attention ........................................................................................................ 34 Industry recognition and promotion............................................................................................. 34 Publication and sales..................................................................................................................... 35 3 JUST DESERTS A COMMUNITY AND FRAMEWORK OF SUPPORT ............................................................................. 36 CONCLUSION ..................................................................................................................................... 37 Chapter 4: WOUNDING MASCULINITY IN AUSTRALIAN CRIME FICTION: INFLUENCE OF THE DAVITT AWARDS ................................................................................................................................................ 38 GENDER OF CRIME FICTION PROTAGONISTS .................................................................................... 39 GENDER, OCCUPATION AND THE PROTAGONIST ............................................................................. 44 GENDER, FAMILY STATUS AND THE PROTAGONIST ......................................................................... 46 FEMALE PROTAGONISTS DOING GENDER ........................................................................................ 48 WOMEN WRITING AND READING WOMEN ...................................................................................... 50 WOMEN WRITING MEN .................................................................................................................... 50 OLD AND NEW CRIME ....................................................................................................................... 51 Chapter 5: RATIOCINATION AND RESOLUTION: CONCLUSION ............................................................. 53 THE CASE OF THE TWO-TRACKED DOCTORATE ................................................................................ 53 WHICH CLIENT? ................................................................................................................................. 54 THE HIGH ROAD OR THE LOW MEAN STREETS? ............................................................................... 55 CASE NOTES ...................................................................................................................................... 57 CLOSING THE CURRENT CASE ........................................................................................................... 57 APPENDIX 1: INTERVIEWS CONDUCTED BY JESSIE BYRNE, AUGUST 2017 TO JUNE 2018 ................... 59 APPENDIX 2: COMPLETE DAVITT AWARD WINNERS, ALL CATEGORIES, 2001-2018 ............................ 61 APPENDIX 3: PROJECT BIBLIOGRAPHY .................................................................................................. 64 LIST OF TABLES ...................................................................................................................................... 67 LIST OF FIGURES .................................................................................................................................... 68 WORKS CITED ........................................................................................................................................ 69 4 JUST DESERTS THESIS ABSTRACT This thesis combines an original novel ‘Angel Port’ and an exegesis on the Davitt Awards. ‘Angel Port’ is a contemporary literary comic crime novel, named for a fictional seaside town in which the protagonist Nathan Newland must choose between transformation and retreat when confronted with the local secrets. The exegesis offers original research into the establishment, development and impact of the Davitt Awards, Sisters in Crime Australia’s crime-writing awards for books by Australian women. The novel and exegesis are loosely linked through the exploration of the idea of just deserts, both good and ill. 5 JUST DESERTS THESIS DECLARATION I certify that this work contains no material which has been accepted for the award of any other degree or diploma in my name in any university or other tertiary institution and, to the best of my knowledge and belief, contains no material previously published or written by another person, except where due reference has been made in the text. In addition, I certify that no part of this work will, in the future, be used in a submission in my name for any other degree