NEW ZEALAND WRITERS INVITED TO ENTER MIND, BODY, SPIRIT AWARDS

Media Release

01 March 2013

-Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust Unpublished Manuscript and

Book Awards 2013-

New Zealand writers with a special interest in the mind, body, spirit genre are encouraged to enter their work into the 2013 Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust Literature Awards.

The Awards recognise both budding and published writers by offering two of the largest prizes awarded for literature in New Zealand.

The Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust, in association with The New Zealand Society of Authors (PEN NZ Inc.) (NZSA) will present two prizes of $10,000 each to the winning unpublished manuscript and published book authors.

Adonia Wylie, spokesperson for the Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust, is encouraging writers from all over the country to enter the Awards.

“The Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust Literature Awards recognise some of the best literary talent in New Zealand and we would encourage writers to submit their work whether they are a burgeoning writer or an established author.”

Ms. Wylie says the Trust’s founder, Ashton Wylie, was an Auckland businessman and philanthropist with a passion for spiritual awareness and promoting loving relationships.

“The Awards are a continuation of The Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust’s dedication to education in the mind, body, spirit field. We are looking for written works which will educate, enlighten, engage and uplift the reader.”

Last year Alan Dawe of Pakuranga won the $10,000 award in the Book category for his work The God Franchise, A Theory of Everything and Lower Hutt resident Lionel Sharman won the $10,000 award in the Unpublished Manuscript category for his work entitled Science for Vicars.

Maggie Tarver, Chief Executive Officer, The New Zealand Society of Authors, says that the category of mind, body, spirit literature continues to gain momentum in New Zealand.

“Last year we received 115 entries into the Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust Literature Awards, which indicates a strong number of New Zealand writers are exploring the mind, body, spirit field.”

To be eligible for the awards, writers must be New Zealand citizens residing in the country. Unpublished manuscripts must be submitted by 31 March 2013, and be between 20,000 and 100,000 words in length. Published books must be submitted by 31 May 2013, should be 48 pages or longer and must have been published between 1 April 2012 and 31 March 2013.

The Awards will be presented in a ceremony at the Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust’s own venue, Hopetoun Alpha in Auckland on 16 August 2013.

Submission forms and entry details are available from www.authors.org.nz or The New Zealand Society of Authors (PEN NZ Inc.) national office, phone: 09 379 4801, e-mail: office@nzauthors.org.nz or post: PO Box 7701, Wellesley Street, Auckland 1141.