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MIN READ
The Australian Society of Authors and Varuna, the National Writers’ House, are thrilled to announce Henriette Tkalec as the recipient of the 2026 ASA/Varuna Ray Koppe Young Writers Fellowship for her novel, Sola.
In describing Sola, Henriette says, “Sola and Lilia are ex-lovers whose relationship was cut short when Sola was forced by her religiously zealous mother to marry Frank. But when they are two of the only survivors of apocalyptic floods and cyclones they are forced to face their feelings. Meanwhile, they become embroiled with a strange group of men lurking in the Australian bushland. When they find that there are women being held captive and brainwashed into sexual obedience, they fight the men to disastrous ends.
Sola and Lilia are cast out on the wasteland where they find Sola’s husband Frank still alive and caught up in a desert drag racing gang. Sola leaves Lilia again to be with him only to find him a deeply traumatised and changed man. She leaves in fear of her safety and wanders the wasteland in search of Lilia. When she finds her, they commit to one another and to saving the women in the cult.”
Henriette is a bookseller holding an MA in Creative Writing from the University of Sydney. In 2025 she was published in the Hunter Writer’s Centre Anthology ‘Grieve.’ She writes about female sexuality and bodily autonomy.
Henriette says, “Being this deep into the writing process yet still so far from the end, it’s easy to fall into dramatic fits of futility, despair and angst. My love for the craft means I have willingly sacrificed so much to bring these little sentences out into the light. The faith and support shown by the ASA and Varuna have made these sacrifices all the more meaningful. With this fellowship I feel emboldened to move forward with renewed confidence and vigour.
I don’t believe that the pace of the modern world is in step with the unbroken solitude that is needed to create a novel. As such, I am thrilled to embark on a period of undisturbed writing time and mentorship at Varuna. My deepest thanks to the ASA for this honour and for encouraging the development of this dark, apocalyptic narrative.”
Lucy Hayward, ASA CEO, says, ‘Congratulations to Henriette on being awarded the Ray Koppe Young Writers Fellowship for 2026! We know how vital it is that writers receive support early on in their careers, and Ray Koppe did, too. Our warm thanks to the Koppe family for giving us the opportunity to facilitate the fellowship and support her legacy of empowering young writers.’
Each year, the ASA and Varuna awards a two-week residential fellowship to a writer under the age of 35 who is as yet unpublished. The fellowship comprises a two-week residency at Varuna (including accommodation and all food), a one-hour consultation with a Varuna consultant, a year’s membership to the Australian Society of Authors, and travel subsidy if the recipient lives outside of NSW.
The residency was established by the Koppe family as a tribute to their mother, Ray Koppe. Ray, who for many years managed the business affairs of the ASA, was always passionately interested in and supportive of, young writers. Read more about Ray here.
Past winners include Casey Keogh (2025), Emma Clancey (2024), Madeleine Rebbechi (2023), Aaliyah Sugitha (2022), Sarah Stivens (2021), Tim McGuire (2020), Hayley Scrivenor (2019), Holden Sheppard (2017), Nick Couldwell (2016), Chloe Higgins (2015), Danielle Binks (2014), Hannah Bent (2013), Dimitra Harvey (2012) and Renae Gibson (2011).
This fellowship is part of the Varuna Residential Fellowships program. Find out more here.
