From the official announcement of the Steph Bowe Prize 2025 on Instagram:

Congratulations to the inaugural winners of The Steph Bowe Prize for Young Writers, @elizabethbourkewriter and @scho.lydia 🎉

The Prize was established in memory of beloved #LoveOzYA author Steph Bowe, and honours her passion for fostering and mentoring emerging writers. Judges Lili Wilkinson (@liliwilkinsonauthor), Alison Evans (@alisonwritesthings) and Nicola Santilli (@acrophony) were so impressed with the quality of entries that it only seemed fitting to award the inaugural Prize to joint winners. Both winners will receive $1000, a 20-hour mentorship and a professional development package worth $200. Will Kostakis (@willkostakis) and @acrophony will be the mentors for the 2025 Prize.

‘Solace’ is a sapphic science fiction YA novel featuring androids, a future drowned Sydney and a search for answers that will change everything. It will appeal to readers of Becky Chambers and Xiran Jay Zhao. Elizabeth Bourke (she/her) is a young writer living on unceded Dharawal land. Her writing tangles nature, technology and queerness. She contributed to the queer speculative YA anthology ‘An Unexpected Party’ and has appeared at @emergingwriters and @nywf.

‘The Maggie Problem’ is a contemporary YA set in suburban Melbourne that explores the complexities of making friends, coming out and finding your people. It will appeal to fans of Alice Oseman, Melina Marchetta and Alice Boyle. Lydia Schofield (they/she) is a writer and artist from Melbourne Naarm. They write YA and middle grade fiction that revolves around friendships, queer experiences, magic and sometimes spaceships. Her work has appeared in the anthology ‘What You Become.’ They also run workshops in writing and comic-making.

Congratulations Lydia and Elizabeth! And thanks to everyone who submitted to The Steph Bowe Prize.