Simpsons is delighted to congratulate Chloe Anne, recipient of the Richell Prize for Emerging Writers 2026, for her winning manuscript, The House Where Mercy Died. Presented by Hachette Australia and the Emerging Writers’ Festival, the prize recognises outstanding emerging writing talent and provides a valuable pathway into the Australian publishing industry. As a proud sponsor of the Emerging Writers’ Festival, Simpsons is honoured to support the Richell Prize for Emerging Writers, helping to celebrate the legacy of Matt Richell and foster the next generation of Australian literary talent. The prize continues to play an important role in identifying and nurturing promising new voices in Australian publishing.
Selected from 1,022 entries submitted from across Australia, Chloe Anne impressed the judges with the confidence, atmosphere and compelling storytelling of The House Where Mercy Died, a gothic novel exploring grief, buried truths and the complexities of family and memory. More information on Chloe Anne and her manuscript can be found here.
The strength of this year's competition was reflected in an exceptional shortlist, comprising Chloe Anne (The House Where Mercy Died), Mike Boynes (Moola Bulla), Farrin Foster (The Same House), Euri Glenn (Harvest), KT Major (Peril), and Gillian Worrall (Exhibit A for Althea). Together, these writers demonstrate the depth of emerging literary talent in Australia and the enduring importance of storytelling, creativity and literacy in enriching our cultural landscape.
We congratulate Chloe Anne on this well-deserved achievement and wish her every success as she embarks on the next stage of her writing career through the prize's $10,000 award and ongoing mentorship with Hachette Australia.