Friday, December 05, 2008


BIG NEWS FOR THE 2009 AUCKLAND WRITERS & READERS FESTIVAL

23rd Commonwealth Writers’ Prize to announce winners at Auckland Writers and Readers Festival in May 2009

The two overall winners of the twenty-third annual Commonwealth Writers’ Prize will be announced at the Auckland Writers and Readers Festival (AWRF), New Zealand, on 16 May 2009.

The Prize, an increasingly valued international award for fiction, is presented by the Commonwealth Foundation. Each year, a final programme brings regional winning writers and judges together for a series of readings, discussions and other public events, the concluding round of judging and a presentation ceremony for the winning Overall Best Book and Best First Book authors.

All eight regional winners, announced in March, will be invited to take part in the programme of activities alongside the final pan-Commonwealth judging. The authors will visit schools, grassroots organisations, charities and prisons, and give readings in a range of bookshops. The week's programme will coincide with the announcement and presentation of the overall Prizes of £5,000 for the Best First Book winner and £10,000 for Best Book winner.

The AWRF will be celebrating its tenth anniversary in 2009. The festival brings together top international and New Zealand writers and thinkers to participate in a lively exchange of ideas with audiences over five days. Past participating authors include J M Coetzee and Kate Grenville, both former winners of the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize.
23rd Commonwealth Writers’ Prize to announce winners at Auckland Writers and Readers Festival in May 2009

The two overall winners of the twenty-third annual Commonwealth Writers’ Prize will be announced at the Auckland Writers and Readers Festival (AWRF), New Zealand, on 16 May 2009.

The Prize, an increasingly valued international award for fiction, is presented by the Commonwealth Foundation. Each year, a final programme brings regional winning writers and judges together for a series of readings, discussions and other public events, the concluding round of judging and a presentation ceremony for the winning Overall Best Book and Best First Book authors.

All eight regional winners, announced in March, will be invited to take part in the programme of activities alongside the final pan-Commonwealth judging. The authors will visit schools, grassroots organisations, charities and prisons, and give readings in a range of bookshops. The week's programme will coincide with the announcement and presentation of the overall Prizes of £5,000 for the Best First Book winner and £10,000 for Best Book winner.

The AWRF will be celebrating its tenth anniversary in 2009. The festival brings together top international and New Zealand writers and thinkers to participate in a lively exchange of ideas with audiences over five days. Past participating authors include J M Coetzee and Kate Grenville, both former winners of the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize.
FOOTNOTE:
As a former judge of these most prestigious Awards The Bookman has observed the huge and positive impact they have on the city hosting the announcement of the winners. Significant numbers of oversease visitors come to town for the event, including, and most importantly of course all the short-listed writers with resultant extensive media attention.
This is very big news indeed for the Auckland Writers & Readers Festival, and how timely that it coincides with the 10th anniversary of the Festival..
The Bookman will of course be there covering events and blogging live from the Festival centre.

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