The Walker Books Australia sponsored prize was awarded to Gareth Ward
for his young-adult fiction manuscript The Sin Chronicles: New Blood.
The Tessa Duder Prize is open to published and unpublished writers based in New
Zealand. The prize consists of a publishing contract with Walker Books
Australia and a $1500 advance.
The judging panel of six was excited to learn the
winner was a new writer. “The judges were delighted to find
that the author of The Sin Chronicles: New Blood was a new writer of
great talent,” said Tessa Duder. “His steampunk novel set in Victorian England
is great fun.”
Walker
Books Australia editor Mary Verney says “We’re so
excited to be working with Gareth! His steampunk world-building is top notch
and Sin, the main character, really stands out as a strong, resilient and
resourceful character. Gareth is obviously very passionate about children’s
literature and he’ll be a great fit here at Walker Books.”
A former
Royal Marine commando, now Havelock North bookseller and part-time magician,
Gareth Ward settled in New Zealand
with his family nine years ago.
The Storylines Tessa Duder Award was inaugurated in
2010 and is now sponsored by Walker Books Australia. The award recognises Tessa
Duder's outstanding contribution to children's literature, both in her
publishing output and her tireless work in the area of children's literacy.
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