New Zealand Writers

NOVITZ, Julian

Drop dead nihilist cool

Novitz, Julian (1980-) is a short fiction writer whose first book, My Real Life and other stories (Random House, 2004) is a collection of interconnected short stories.

Julian Novitz was born in Christchurch and educated at the University of Canterbury where he studied history and philosophy. In 2002 he relocated to Wellington to complete an MA in Creative Writing at Victoria University.

About My Real Life and other stories Michael Larsen in the Dominion Post writes, ‘It is Novitz’s sure sense of perspective which stakes him out as a writer worthy of serious consideration.’ Larsen goes on to comment that ‘while the stories are strongly focused on university life and the trials and tribulations of young, generally white urban people, the themes are universal, and the writing strong enough that they will have broad appeal…Definitely one to watch.’

Julian Novitz lives in Wellington.

(FS)

Updated Information

My Real Life and other stories won the New Zealand Society of Authors Hubert Church Best First Book Award for Fiction at the Montana New Zealand Book Awards 2005.

Holocaust Tours (Random House, 2006) is Novitz's first novel.

Novitz won the 2008 Katherine Mansfield Short Story Award for his story 'Three Couples'.