Here is the short list for this year’s Miles Franklin Award:

• Hopeless Kingdom by Kgshak Akec (UWA Publishing).
• Limberlost by Robbie Arnott (Text Publishing).
• Cold Enough for Snow by Jessica Au (Giramondo Publishing).
• Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens by Shankari Chandran (Ultimo Press).
• The Lovers by Yumna Kassab (Ultimo Press).
• Iris by Fiona Kelly McGregor (Pan Macmillan Australia).

I want to exhort all Anglo Saxon Australians – especially males and those who signify as male – to have a crack at the MF next year.

If Robbie Arnott can do it that means a Bruce, Craig, Maxine or a Narelle has a chance.