Congratulations again to Lydia Schofield and Elizabeth Bourke!

And thank you to everyone who submitted to The Steph Bowe Prize for Young Writers.

The Prize reopens 1 February 2026.

stephboweprize.com

#LoveOzYA

‘The Maggie Problem’ is a contemporary YA that explores complexities of making friends, coming out and finding your people. Lydia Schofield (they/she) is a writer and artist from Melbourne Naarm. They write YA and MG that revolves around friendships, queer experiences, magic and sometimes spaceships

‘Solace’ is a sapphic scifi YA featuring androids, a future drowned Sydney and a search for answers that will change everything. Elizabeth Bourke (she/her) is a young writer living on unceded Dharawal land. Her writing tangles nature, technology and queerness.