Multiple Geraldton authors have been recognised for their work as finalists in the Premier’s Book Awards.

The shortlist revealed this week includes some of Australia’s best modern literature, composed of 30 authors across six categories.

Holden Sheppard, who recently published Yeah the Boys, a sequel to his acclaimed debut Invisible Boys, made the list for fiction book of the year.

Sheppard said it was validating to have his first adult novel, King of Dirt, nominated. The story follows a young gay man coming back to Geraldton after working on the Nullarbor Plain.

“Writers are told you have to be this thing, and if you’re that, then you can’t be anything else,” he said.

“When I wanted to write for adults, I initially did have some pushback.”

Sheppard previously won the WA Premier’s emerging writer award.

He described King of Dirt as his “most personal book” and to have it recognised at the WA Premier’s Book Awards was “a real honour”.

Tasma Walton has also been recognised in the same category for her book I Am Nannertgarrook. Based on the true story of one of Walton’s ancestors, the novel follows a young mother who is kidnapped from her homeland and people.

The book has already won last year’s $100,000 ARA Historical Novel Prize, and was nominated for the NiB Literary Award.

When Walton visited Geraldton for Big Sky Readers and Writers Festival last year, she said that writing about her ancestor made for a “more emotive creative experience”.

“Because it’s held in your DNA somewhere and when you’re writing about experiences that are in the colonial records, that are not pleasant experiences, but you’re trying to bring them to life on a page, a part of you kind of lives them in a way,” she said.

The Geraldton born and raised actor, and author said writing this book had been a “labour of love”.

“More often than not you prepare yourself for the bitter disappointment that nobody reads your book,” she said.

“But you’re committed to telling the story and you have to be otherwise you wouldn’t put yourself through it.

“For it to be embraced by readers, it’s not an easy story to tell, it’s not an easy story to read, but I’m so grateful that people are taking that journey.”

Yamatji author Mabel Gibson is nominated for the emerging writer of the year for her debut Crybaby. The book chronicles her life growing up in Perth, Albany, and Geraldton and addresses themes of grief and identity.

Gibson moved to Geraldton with her family and attended Nagle Catholic College for her final year of school, and described the relocation as a “life-changing decision”.

“Geraldton is a very important part of my story, and I feel like extremely connected to the country,” she said.

“Almost everybody who has read (her book) has pointed out to me that country sort of plays a character within the book, and I think that that did just come out naturally.”

Gibson said her nomination, which was her first-ever award shortlisting, was exciting and surprising.

“It feels like really amazing to be there with people like Holden, he’s an internationally recognised author at this point, and I know that when he first started, he was shortlisted for the emerging writers category as well. To be put alongside people like him is really amazing,” she said.

Premier Roger Cook said he was proud to celebrate WA’s “ incredible creative community”.

“The books shortlisted for the Premier’s Book Awards showcase what it means to belong to and connect to a place like WA — and I know they stand up on the national stage too,” he said.

Previous winners include The Narrow Road to the Deep North, This House of Grief, and Questions of Travel.

The winners will be announced in September, and will share in a prize pool of $120,000.