'The granddaughter of Jewish immigrants, Deborah became a prize-winning professor of International Law at the London School of Economics. After being diagnosed with cancer, Deborah left her academic career and focused on creative writing. She had a number of short fiction pieces published, but was unable to realise her aim to complete a novel. With generous support from family and friends, this prize aims to help someone outside the mainstream find a voice for themselves.'
Source: The Deborah Cass Prize homepage.
The prize was inaugurated in 2015 and last presented in 2022: Deborah Cass's brother noted that the context for Australian writing had changed since the prize's inauguration, and many more opportunities were available for diverse writers.
Source: Books + Publishing (https://www.booksandpublishing.com.au/articles/2022/11/04/222853/deborah-cass-prize-shortlist-announced-2/). (Sighted: 7/11/2022)
Epigraph: Looking for a place to live. Looking for a job. You begin to doubt your judgment, you begin to doubt everything. You become imprecise. And that’s when you’re beginning to go under. You’ve been beaten, and it’s been deliberate. The whole society has decided to make you nothing.
– James Baldwin
You wanted to fight for a cause
Then go out and love someone
-Gang Of Youths
