OBSERVER: Stiletto Awards
The 33rd Scarlet Stiletto Awards Ceremony will be held during a sit-down dinner on Saturday, November 21 at 6pm (bar opens) at the Stamford Plaza in Little Collins St, Melbourne.
The Scarlet Stiletto Awards are run by Sisters in Crime Australia, a national organisation dedicated to promoting women’s crime writing. The competition has generated more than 5000 entries since it began in 1994.
Chair of the judging panel Emeritus Professor Christina Lee said the judges were delighted with the quality of stories submitted this year.
“We were particularly happy to see many stories that showed female characters with strong agency, solving crimes or escaping dangerous situations,” she said.
Vikki Petraitis, author of The Unbelieved, which has recently been adapted into the ABC TV series Dustfall, said she was thrilled to present the Awards.
“For years, these awards have championed emerging women writers, with many successful authors tracing the beginnings of their careers back to a Scarlet Stiletto.
“It is a privilege to celebrate the next generation of storytellers and the voices that may one day shape Australia’s crime writing landscape,” said Ms Petraitis.
Kerryn Mayne, author of Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder and Joy Mundy Is Out of Time will host the awards.
Full list of the shortlisted stories from the 33rd Scarlet Stiletto Awards can be found on sistersincrime.org.au/scarlet-stiletto-awards-2026/
Sit-down dinner at the Stamford Plaza, 111 Little Collins St., Melbourne.
Saturday November 21, 6pm (Bar Opens)
Dress code: Scarlet
Ticket prices: $80 (Sisters In Crime member) or $95 (non-member)
Tickets must be purchased by Wednesday November 11 and are available at: eventbrite.com.au/e/33rd-scarlet-stiletto-awards-tickets-2003848538922?aff=oddtdcreator
Cheryl Threadgold

