The Commonwealth Author prize pack was won by Janet Pates.
The two double passes to Jo Randerson’s new play
Good Night - The End running at Downstage until October 3 were won by Belinda Whitehead and Kelly Smith.
Thank you to the Commonwealth Foundation and Downstage Theatre for donating these prizes.
This month we have two copies of
Living as a Moon, the new collection of stories from master short fiction writer
Owen Marshall. Please enter the draw by emailing
reception@bookcouncil.org.nz, with the title of the book in the subject line and your address in the body of the email. Entries must be received by 12 noon on Friday 2 October.
Like to read e-books? Now you can choose from over a 1000 New Zealand electronic books available for download on the
NZETC website.
Recent e-journal Issues include
Blackmail Press Issue 25
here, and
Snorkel 10 is due for launch in October - in the meantime you can read
Snorkel 9 here. Remember to keep your eye on the
Lumiere Reader Creative Writing section
here for the latest NZ fiction and poetry.
To keep up with what's happening in the world if Crime Writing check out Craig Sisterson's
Crime Watch blog. The
Pasifika poetry files are another rich resource, and the archive includes a great range of audio and video files.
And a few links for Book Groups -
Flashlight Worthy is the best site for book lists we have come across yet. For teens,
PulseIt is well worth a look if you are a keen reader and reviewer.
Wellingtonian
Geoff Cochrane has been granted the Janet Frame Poetry Award for 2009 and
Alison Wong of Titahi Bay has received the Janet Frame Fiction Award for 2009.
Kate De Goldi is a finalist in the Silver Inky Award for her acclaimed book
The 10pm Question. The Awards are run by the Centre for Youth Literature from the State Library of Victoria, Australia, and the Silver Inky is for the best international teen book. The short-list will be posted on October 9 and can be voted on via the website by readers until November 20. The Awards will be announced on November 26.
Eleanor Catton's debut novel
The Rehearsal has been longlisted for the Guardian First Book Award in the UK.
The Rehearsal is one of ten books up for the GBP10,000 prize, which will be awarded in December. Read more about the prize and the longlist at the
Guardian website.
Writers to watch out for were announced at the Pikihuia Awards for Maori Writers on September 14, as many are now bound for further literary success judging by previous years’ finalists such as
James George,
Kelly Ana Morey and
Paula Morris. For more information about the awards and finalists visit the
Huia site.
Dunedin writer Karen Trebilcock, who writes under the pen name
Ella West, is the University of Otago College of Education Writer in Residence for 2010. The prestigious six-month residency is open to established children’s writers who have published one or more books of imaginative work for children.
Peter Wells and Damien Skinner have each been awarded
Copyright Licensing Awards valued at $35,000 each. The Copyright Licensing Ltd Writers’ Awards were established in 2002 to provide financial support, in a full range of non-fiction categories, for writers wishing to devote time to a specific book project and to cover reasonable research expenses relating to it.
Auckland novelist and media/marketing practitioner Michele Powles is the 2010 Robert Burns Fellow.
The Robert Burns Fellowship is New Zealand's premier literary residency. The Fellowship was established in 1958 to commemorate the bicentenary of the birth of Robert Burns, and it is aimed to encourage imaginative New Zealand literature and to bring writers to the University.
Please note this is only a sample of events from the
events page on our website.
fragilethings
23-26 September 7.00pm
fragilethingsyoushouldknowbynow
becarefulwhatyouputthemthrough explores the dying sparks of collapsing relationships, each offering a different take on how people sift through the ashes left behind by the bright light of burnt love, and try to keep it burning. To Book: email theatre@vuw.ac.nz or call (04) 463 4359.
Venue: Studio 77, 77 Fairlie Terrace (Gate 10 of Victoria University’s Kelburn Campus)
Cost: $8 unwaged, $15 waged
Randell Cottage Open Day 27 September, 11.00am-4.00pm:
The Trustees of the Randell Cottage Writers Trust invite you to visit the Randell Cottage Open Day. Randell Cottage is one of Wellington’s oldest restored cottages and home to both New Zealand and French writers during the year. Take the opportunity to explore this corner of our city’s history.
V
enue: 14 St Mary’s Street, Thorndon
New Zealand Book Month October 2009
A month long celebration of Kiwi books and writers. Visit the
NZ Book Month website for information on events in your area and ideas on how you can be involved.
Venue: Nationwide
Memories a Plenty Awards
7 October, 6.00pm-7.30pm
Announcement of prize-winners and presentation of prizes by judges Stephanie Smith, Tracey Rudduck & Tommy 'Kapai' Wilson. Generous prizes were donated by The Bay of Plenty Times, Bravado, Tauranga Writers and Ruabro Ltd. Free entry. Contact: jenny.argante@clear.net.nz, ph 07 576 3040
Venue: Tauranga Central Library, Willow Street, Tauranga
2009 Octagon Collective series 21 October 8.00pm
The 2009 Octagon Collective series of poetry readings features a local guest poet and includes an open mike section. This week will feature poet
Michael Harlow. Remember to bring a poem or two for open mike. Compere Cy Mathews.
Venue: Circadian Rhythm Cafe, 72 Saint Andrew St, Dunedin
Married to their Art with Emily Perkins and Karl Maughan 31 October 12.00pm
Novelist and broadcaster
Emily Perkins won this year's prestigious US Believers prize for the best work of fiction published in 2008 with
Novel About My Wife. She is married to artist Karl Maughan, whose detailed and lush paintings appear in
The Painted Garden in New Zealand. How does the artistic temperament (x2) fit within marriage, a family of five, and the conflicting triumphs and traumas of being creative?
Bookings:
www.ticketdirect.co.nz, or phone 0800 484 2538.
Venue: TVNZ Crystal Palace, The Strand, Tauranga
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I thought our school readers may be interested to hear about a successful visit by 
Late last October, Helen Thompson from the HBLA emailed me at the Book Council office, to let me know thatRobyn Belton and Jennifer Beck had agreed to come for their annual author event, to be held in September the following year, and would I like to arrange a writer tour around it? I emailed our member schools in that region, and I had the best response I have had from any tour suggestion in over two years in the job. I had filled the slots, and some, within three days of putting out the request! We had to negotiate with the ladies to stay one day extra, so we could fit four more schools in – which luckily they were able to do.
For the first time, in 2009, the New Zealand Society of Authors together with the Manchester Trust is proud to be able to offer an award to recognise the oeuvre of published work by a mid-career writer. The purpose of the award is to offer recognition to an author who may not necessarily have previously achieved a high level of publicity for their work. The award will be open to writers of fiction, poetry, short fiction collections, and literary non-fiction, and is worth $3,500. The closing date for nominations is 6 November 2009. Information from 
What are words worth? We think they’re worth plenty and New Zealand Book Month, together with ASB, need your help to prove it. Our Kiwi books are inspirational, they tell our stories, in our voice, and take us to new places where we can meet choice characters and have cool adventures. If a Kiwi book has made you think or act or see something differently we want to hear about it. AND we want to give out prizes!
The New Zealand Book Council receives core funding from Creative New Zealand. We are extremely grateful to our 
