2008 Inky Awards

While we're on the subject of awards, the longlist has been announced for this year's Inky Awards. If you're not familiar with the Inkys, they are a people's choice award, which means you get to vote for them. It all happens over at insideadog.com.au which is run by the Centre for Youth Literature at the State Library of Victoria (that's the big building full of books right opposite Melbourne Central).

Here's their explanation of how it works:

• The Centre for Youth Literature picks a longlist of 10 Australian books and 10 International books from the last year.
• A panel of 4 young people and 2 famous people pick a shortlist of 3 Australian, 3 international books.
• YOU VOTE.
• The International winner gets the Silver Inky (snazzy trophy), and the Australian winner gets the Golden Inky (snazzy trophy PLUS $2000).

So get on over to insideadog, check out the longlist and start reading so you can start voting when the polls open on September 12. I've only read 4 of the 20 longlisted books, so I've got a long way to go.