Sunday, March 29, 2009


Storylines children’s book awards
presented at Christchurch gathering

Four national children’s book awards were presented at the Storylines Children’s Literature Charitable Trust of New Zealand annual Margaret Mahy Day. The gathering was held for the first time outside of Auckland, in Christchurch yesterday.

The Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal for a distinguished contribution to New Zealand children’s literature was presented by Margaret Mahy to natural history writer Andrew Crowe,(pic left), from Coromandel. He is the first non-fiction writer and 19th winner of this top national award.
Two Storylines awards enable publication, in association with Scholastic New Zealand, by new writers.

The Storylines Tom Fitzgibbon Award for an unpublished novel for children entitled Hollie Chips goes to Anna Gowan, from Auckland, for publication in March 2009. A former Otago University student, Anna works in television and has attended John Marsden’s writing workshops in Victoria, Australia.
The Storylines Joy Cowley Award for a picture book text was presented to June Peka, a Christchurch freelance writer, retired civil servant and grandmother of four, with publication in late 2010.
The third award is the Storylines Gaelyn Gordon Award for a Much-loved Book, given in memory of the popular children’s author who died in 1997. The award requires a book to have been in print for more than five years and to have not previously won an award. This year’s winner is the classic young adult novel I am not Esther by Wellington writer Fleur Beale.


Storylines and Scholastic launched the winner of the Storylines Tom Fitzgibbon Award for 2008, Salt River by Elizabeth Hegarty.

1 comment:

Tania Roxborogh said...

It was a wonderful day: Andrew spoke so well and challenged our perceptions of the status accorded Fiction compared to NON fiction; he suggested changing the labels to TRUE and MADE UP (which elicited many chuckles of delight from the audience). What an interesting man and then Margaret spoke so eloquently in response to his lecture; she is such a treasure. And, and, these NEW authors - I'm so jealous and pleased.
Writers and illustrators in attendance were: Tessa Duder, Fleur Beale, Andrew, Robin Belton, Diana Menefy (who came the all the way from Northland), Deborah Burnside (who, incidentally, is going to be in the movie of my new book, Banquo’s Son, cos she is exactly how I imagine one of the characters: tall, beautiful, Celtic looking - we both shook on it!), Bill Nagelkerke, Gavin Bishop, Joanna Orwin, Margaret (of course), Elizabeth (who had her Tom Fitzgibbon novel launched) and two illustrators whose names I didn't catch and didn't get to meet.

Though I endured a flight from hell (Dunedin to chch during a very strong nor’wester), I’m still glad I went. Thanks to all on the Storylines committee for bringing it all together. As Fleur said, we, as writers and illustrators, feel so buoyed by the support of these people passionate about children and books.