2026 SparkLit Awards Night
This year’s SparkLit Awards Night will be held on Thursday 20 August at 7:00pm (AEST) and broadcast from 8:00pm. Join us for the presentation of the Australian Christian Literature Awards:
2026 Australian Christian Book of the Year Award
2026 Young Australian Christian Writer Award
2026 Australian Christian Teen Writer Award
Prepare to be encouraged by shortlisted authors, young writers and SparkLit’s overseas project partners!
Register now to receive the livestream link, or get tickets to the in-person event at St Alfred’s Anglican Church, Blackburn North. For more information, call us on 1300 13 77 25 or send us an email at admin@sparklit.org
Watch the 2026 SparkLit Awards Night here!
Join us for the presentation of the 2026 Australian Christian Book of the Year Award.
Livestreamed on Thursday 20 August, 2026 from 7:00pm (AEST).
This changes everything
On Saturday morning, I was back at my local Parkrun. As usual, at the finish line I was greeted by Frank. “How was Cambodia?” “Exciting!” I told Frank that I had spent two weeks in the forests of northeast Cambodia.
I grew up in a land without books
I was born in December 1979, nine months after the defeat of Pol Pot. I grew up in a land without books. The Khmer Rouge had burned every book. They killed every teacher. They closed every school.
Building bridges, not walls
My mother didn’t want me to join a “cult” and wouldn’t allow me to attend the services or meetings. But, thanks to God, after some time she stopped arguing with me. Jesus had changed me and my mother noticed the difference.
Look what God has done!
Misfortune and illness made my family even poorer than our neighbours. My younger sister was born with deformed hands and feet. We call her Kut, which means “crooked.” Someone—usually me—was always sick.
We must surrender to the Holy Spirit
I entered the seminary, not of my own desire, but because of my father’s unfulfilled dream to be a priest. My parents always took me to church. My father was a lay minister. I was active in the youth group. I became a lay reader and learned to play the guitar so I could join the music team. My week wasn’t complete without going to church.
Light in the darkness
“No more literacy teaching for you! If you teach, I will leave you!” I felt crushed and betrayed. As usual, my husband was drunk and violent. I was 16 years old. He was 21. I had been a literacy teacher for four years. When we married two years ago, my husband had agreed that I would continue to teach. However, he was not interested in reading or writing.
The Lord is my shepherd
I was born into a poor family in which the traditional roles were reversed. Every day, my mother worked to support us while my father stayed at home. My father was always drinking. He strongly desired a son. As a daughter I disappointed him. I felt unwanted, unloved and rejected.
Register for the 2026 SparkLit Awards Night now!
Join us for the presentation of the 2026 Australian Christian Book of the Year Award, Young Australian Christian Writer Award and Australian Christian Teen Writer Award.
Thursday 20 August, 2026. Book online or in-person tickets here.
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