The Rosanne Fitzgibbon Editorial Award, the Rosie, has been awarded to Julia Carlomagno, editor at Scribe, for her editorial work on Briohny Doyle’s narrative nonfiction book, Adult Fantasy (Scribe).
Known as the Rosie, the award recognises editorial excellence in memory of editor Rosanne Fitzgibbon DE, and was established by Editors Queensland, a branch of IPEd, in 2017.
IPEd Chair and award founder Kerry Davies AE said Carlomagno showed initiative in commissioning the project after awarding Doyle’s essay the Scribe Nonfiction Prize. She worked with Doyle to develop the essay into a full-length book.
Judges described Adult Fantasy as ‘a brilliant blend of memoir, sociology, pop culture and journalism’, and said Carlomagno ‘fostered Doyle’s ability to write in this new genre’.
‘Carlomagno supported Doyle every step of her writing journey and helped the author grow into a mature writer who has gone on to become the voice of her generation,’ judges said. Carlomagno ‘demonstrated a thoroughness and consistency throughout the project, working with the author and offering feedback and guidance during the writing process, on the ordering of the material, the content and the voice’.
They also noted the strong ethics and professionalism Carlomagno demonstrated in the complex and innovative project.
Carlomagno, who developed a close and respectful rapport with Doyle, accepted the award from IPEd Patron Roly Sussex at the gala dinner of the 9th IPEd Editors Conference in Melbourne on Thursday 9 May 2019.
‘It is validating to have an award that acknowledges editors, and the value that editors bring to a work,’ Carlomagno said.
David Golding, senior editor at Scribe, said ‘Julia is a fantastic and sensitive editor. She developed a short piece – an essay about the work of a marriage celebrant – into an accomplished book that speaks to our times’.
The judges were author Marian Halligan and editor Leonie Tyle.
The Rosie is awarded every two years at the Editors Conference.