'Flabbergasted' and 'surprised' — ahead of the winner announcement, the Miles Franklin shortlisted writers tell you about their books and what it means to be on the shortlist.

The Miles Franklin is the most prestigious writing prize in Australia and is awarded to a novel of "the highest literary merit that presents Australian life in any of its phases".

This year's shortlisted works cover themes of art, obsession, colonialism, time, fathers, and the self.

These are the authors - and their books - in contention for the $60 000 prize:

• Hossein Asgari, Only Sound Remains (Puncher & Wattmann)
• Jen Craig, Wall (Puncher & Wattmann)
• Andre Dao, Anam (Hamish Hamilton/Penguin Random House)
• Gregory Day, The Bell of the World (Transit Lounge)
• Sanya Rushdi, Hospital (Giramondo Publishing)
• Alexis Wright, Praiseworthy (Giramondo Publishing)