Storylines awards to writers announced

Two national writing awards, one for unpublished authors, was announced by the Storylines Children's Literature Charitable Trust at its annual Margaret Mahy Day today, Saturday 31 March 2012.

Rachel Stedman, from Dunedin, has won the Storylines Tessa Duder Award the manuscript of a young adult novel by a previously unpublished author.
Rachel is a trained physiotherapist with two sons. Her work has appeared in e-zines and in the School Journal, but her first young adult novel will be published by HarperCollins Publishers in 2013.
The Storylines Tessa Duder Award honours not only the writing of Tessa Duder, but her tireless work behind the scenes, supporting New Zealand children for children and, especially, young adults.
The inaugural winner of the Storylines Tessa Duder Award, Hugh Brown, will also be attending the Storylines Margaret Mahy Dad, where his first novel, Reach, will be launched by the award sponsor, HarperCollins Publishers.
The Storylines Joy Cowley Award for a picture book text is open to any writer, published or not, has this year been won by an unpublished author.
Isaac Drought, a Taranaki intermediate school teacher, spent six years in Indonesia and has long dreamt of becoming a children's author. Isaac's award-winning picture book will be launched at the Storylines Festival in August 2013.
The Storylines Joy Cowley Award is sponsored by Scholastic New Zealand. The award is named in honour of one of New Zealand's most passionate advocates for children's literacy, Joy Cowley - as a writer, reader, parent and influential voice. Previous winners have included Lucy Davey and New Zealand Post Children's Book Award winner, Kyle Mewburn.

Iris's Ukulele by Kathy Taylor, will also be launched at the Storylines Margaret Mahy Day, as the 2011 winner of the Storylines Tom Fitzgibbon Award. This award honours the memory of the late Tom Fitzgibbon, academic and supporter of children's literature.