Wellington novices write short but sweet

This from The Dominion, Monday:

It is only one-third finished, but Wellington author Jennifer Lane's first novel has already won an award.
She and fellow Wellington author Dave Armstrong have picked up prizes for short stories as part of New Zealand Book Month 2007.
Both entered extracts from yet-to-be-published novels.
"It was amazing really, it's just so encouraging. Writing a novel is a long process, and it's an incentive to keep going," Lane said.
Her piece, "Scout's Honour", is from a novel tentatively entitled Little White Lies, about a dysfunctional family in small-town New Zealand.
Armstrong's chapter, "Foodbanquet", is from a political satire some Wellington public relations minions may be able to identify with.
The Speechwriter follows a schoolteacher who gives up his job to write speeches for a prime minister whose policies he does not believe in.
At present the writer in residence at Victoria University, Armstrong said he was rapt at winning the award.
"It's great that comedy writing and political satire has been recognised in this way."
His novel is all but finished, and he is negotiating with publishers.
Both writers picked up a $5000 cheque for their efforts, which will be published in The Six Pack, a collection of works from the six winners nationwide.
Priced at $6, the book sold 14,000 copies last year and was on the bestseller Top 10 list for 14 weeks.
The other winners were Charlotte Grimshaw (Auckland), Elizabeth Smither (New Plymouth) Tracey Slaughter (Coromandel) and Faith Oxenbridge (Christchurch).