Friday, February 19, 2010

MEDIA RELEASE:
HUIA Publishers
19 February 2010
A life’s work among the best in the Commonwealth


Albert Wendt has been shortlisted in the prestigious Commonwealth Writers Prize (South East Asia and Pacific) for what he regards as a life’s work.
The Adventures of Vela is a novel in verse which has taken me almost all my writing life to complete,” said Wendt. “It is about the fabulous adventures of a Samoan song-maker/poet/chronicler who lives for three hundred years.”

This is the second time that Wendt has been shortlisted for the Commonwealth Prize, he was also shortlisted in 1992. Regional Chair for South East Asia and Pacific, Dr Anne Brewster said ‘The high standard of books in the South East Asia and Pacific region this year ensured that the short-listing process was a challenge for the judges.’

Internationally recognised for propelling authors into the literary spotlight, the shortlist for the regional winners from South East Asia and Pacific provides an opportunity for writers to strengthen their reputation, as they compete with the best authors from Africa, Caribbean, Canada, South Asia and Europe to win.
The winner will receive a cash prize of £10,000 and will be announced on 12 April 2010 in Delhi, India.

1 comment:

Keri Hulme said...

Well done Al Wendt! And, well done Huia Publishers!
It is very rare that novels are written in verse these days - and rarer still that a dedicated publisher will
bring them out to the world...all best for success in the Award.