EVERY YEAR THE readers of the High Country Book Club, based at The Makers Shed, vote on an award recognising the best book from a selection of finalists, read and discussed at a meeting on the third Saturday of every month. The club selects titles published by independent publishing presses, or independently-published authors.

The winner will be announced during the festival, and for the second year Glen Innes Mayor Carol Sparks has donated a cash prize for the best book, and will read out the winning author’s name.

The annual trophy is handmade by resident silversmith at The Makers Shed, Richard Moon. The inaugural winner of the High Country Indie Book Award was Lady Bird & The Fox by Australian author Kim Kelly.