Western Australian queer author Fiona Wilkes has been shortlisted for the 2024 Hungerford Awards for her work, I remember everything . The shortlist for the 2024 City of Fremantle Hungerford Award has been announced, with PhD candidate and queer writer Fiona Wilkes among the four finalists. Wilkes’ manuscript, I Remember Everything , is a historical fiction novel that poignantly explores queer life during the AIDS epidemic in the decade following 1979 , a time when the HIV crisis lacked proper treatment.
Describing her novel, Wilkes said, “ The novel is an exploration of what it means to love your found family, at times more than your real one, and the lengths you will go to in order to save them .” This powerful narrative follows protagonist Billie, a young queer woman navigating love, loss, and survival as her friends succumb to the devastating epidemic while she remains uninfected. T he novel draws attention to the importance of queer solidarity and the deep, often unbreakable bonds within chosen families.
The City of Fremantle Hungerford Award, a biennial prize recognising unpublished Western Australian authors, offers a $15,000 cash prize, a publishing contract with Fremantle Press, and a fellowship with the Centre for Stories. Holden Sheppard was previously award the prize for his debut novel Invisible Boys. Judged anonymously, the award this year saw 81 entries, with four writers—including Wilkes—nominated for their unique and powerful works.
Wilkes’ novel .