The writers of Underbelly, the screen dramatisation of Melbourne's infamous gangland war, have been shortlisted for Australia's richest literary awards.
Greg Haddrick, Felicity Packard and Peter Gawler, who penned the popular Nine Network television series, are on the shortlist for a $30,000 script writing prize in this year's NSW Premier's Literary Awards.
"For all its demotic language and popular appeal, this series is television drama at its literary best," judges said.
In the same category, Sean Nash has been nominated for writing the 447th episode of the Seven Network's television drama All Saints.
The episode titled Not What You'd Expect is "realistic and to the point", according to judges.
Now in its 30th year, 62 Australian writers have been culled from more than 640 entries to make shortlists in categories including script writing, fiction, non-fiction, poetry, young people's literature, children's literature and translation.
Children's writer Ursula Dubosarsky, who along with Peter Carey has won more awards than any other writers during the history of the awards, is on the 2009 shortlist for her book The Word Spy.
Tim Winton's Breath, the tale of two adventurous teenagers escaping the boredom of a small town in Western Australia in the 1970s by learning to surf, is shortlisted for the People's Choice Award.
Competing in the same category is Helen Garner's The Spare Room, an account of terminal illness.
The winners of this year's titles will be announced on May 18.
Worth a total $320,000, the NSW Premier's Literary Awards are the richest literary awards in Australia.
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