Tomorrow There Will Be Sun: A Hope Prize Anthology

by Various, Quentin Bryce (foreword)

Prize-winning and highly commended stories from the 2024 Hope Prize, with judges including Dame Quentin Bryce, Dr Tony Birch and Julia Gillard.

‘Tomorrow There Will Be Sun is more than just a book, it is hope in your hands.’ Julia Gillard 
 
The Hope Prize is one of the world’s leading short story competitions, and this collection of winning and shortlisted stories will delight, move and inspire you. From two lovers in Nigeria navigating uncertain futures; a homeless man in Melbourne holding fast to his dignity against the backdrop of an indifferent city; a former prisoner stepping back into the world; and a mother in Ireland who is unknowingly whisper-close to her long-lost son, these stories grapple with issues that define our time – mental health, poverty, war – in a way that feels both intimate and urgent.
 
In Tomorrow There Will Be Sun some of the world’s most promising literary voices remind us that no matter the challenges we face, through the strength of the human spirit and the power of connection, we can move through darkness and into the light. In a tapestry of unique perspectives, this engrossing and entertaining collection is a balm for the soul.
 
Hope isn't passive. It’s something we create, together. And in these pages, you’ll find hope well and truly alive, waiting for you to carry it forward.

All royalties from the anthology support Beyond Blue, Australia's leading mental health charity.

Genres: Short Stories, Fiction

367 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 4, 2024

About the author

Various is the correct author for any book with multiple unknown authors, and is acceptable for books with multiple known authors, especially if not all are known or the list is very long (over 50).

If an editor is known, however, Various is not necessary. List the name of the editor as the primary author (with role "editor"). Contributing authors' names follow it.

Note: WorldCat is an excellent resource for finding author information and contents of anthologies.

Reviews

[Clare · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely collection of short stories by up-and-coming authors. My favourites included The Black Hole, The Cat at No 4, Jam It, Beasts of Burden, The Best Pieces Not From Me, and A Veiled Courage. While most of these stories deal with difficult issues (war, mental illness, poverty, addiction and loss), they are each threaded with silver linings of hope. All royalties from this anthology go to Beyond Blue so I would encourage you to buy this book if you can!!! 💙

[Rachel Coutinho · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful anthology of common scenarios where a person would feel depressed and down about life, yet each story ends on a note of hope. I was absorbed in most of these short stories, they were definitely written by a very talented group of writers.

[Rhearne · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of short stories that were quick and easy to read. While the stories were centred on the theme of hope and always ended with a positive outlook, there were strong themes of mental health issues, morbidity, mortality and abuse.

[East-Daikon]

If I had to pick three I'd recommend the first place one "The Shadows Cast by the Moon" (sounds like it'd be dark fantasy but it's reminiscent of Eleanor Oliphant in tone - delightful), the second place one "Creating Ripples" (an unexpected tearjerker!) and "WWRGD" (shortlisted, kinda wholesome...)

In terms of what they're looking for, there seems to be a lot of memoir and heavy topics. For example:

1. Leaving a violent relationship
2. Being forced to give up a baby for adoption
3. Having a parent commit suicide
4. Having a suicidal child
5. Parent going into palliative care
6. Having a parent with dementia
7. A kid going into foster care

It's not exclusively this but there are a lot of first time writers with topics like these.

There are also pieces by established writers (a few had books out with traditional publishers). They stood out in terms of quality of the actual prose. When one story had the line, "Mum reckons Ryan Gosling is a real spunk" I immediately felt in safe hands, it tells you so much about who the character is and feels confident.

So yeah it's a mix.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

This compilation of short stories was good and interesting. It seems that they are billed as hopeful stories, inspiring and uplifting, but I actually found most of them a bit more forlorn and melancholy than hopeful.

"Jam it," "WWRGD" and "Creating Ripples," stood out as memorable to me.

[Aylin Seven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Challenging themes, beautiful stories with hopeful endings.

[Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some very engaging short stories. Would recommend.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This powerful collection of short stories, garnered from a writing competition sponsored by Beyond Blue, features stories of individuals experiencing challenging circumstances, feelings of helplessness, loss or mental health struggles. However in each there is a “thread of hope” usually provided by encounters with or through the gentle presence of ‘hope-givers’ who show empathy and provide emotional support. The stories are varied in their contexts but all demonstrate the foundational pillars of Beyond Blue - “Hope, Recovery and Resilience.”

As short stories they were emotionally charged yet made satisfying reading, as the reader is not left too long dwelling on the difficulties of each protagonist and the resolutions offer glimmers of hope and pathways forward.