Faber Writing Academy is delighted to announce the winners of the third round of the 2025 FWA Alumni Award, Aneil Fatania and Sarah J Neal.

Aneil Fatania’s novel, English-English is about an Indian-English politician in Victorian London who goes undercover to destroy Indian independence to earn his status as a Proper English Gentleman™.

Allen & Unwin’s publishing director, Cate Paterson said: ‘Aneil’s writing is as rich and multilayered as the subject matter. The writing is beguiling and weaves its charms as the reader enters the complicated and nuanced world of Charles/Krishna.’

Sarah J Neal’s Christine is a queer, post-punk era coming of age novel set in Brisbane. Cast out for forbidden desire and rejected by her family, Christine must navigate fragile relationships and the malice of society, turning pain into clarity as she searches for belonging – and the hope of happiness – in a hostile world.

Cate said: ‘Sarah J Neal’s writing crackles with anticipation. You can smell the land, feel the dust on your skin, sense the constrained emotion bubbling inside Christine. The pacing is excellent and the build up of tension is so well done. I want to know what happens at the Ball!’

This was the inaugural year of the FWA Alumni Award, a new merit award for graduates of our 2023 – 2025 Stay the Course, Edit & Submit Your Novel, Advanced Novel Workshop and Writing a Novel programs. Stay tuned for more information about our plans for the award in 2026!