Wellington writer Fleur Beale wins Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal

Wellington writer Fleur Beale has won the 2012 Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal for her outstanding contribution to New Zealand writing for children and young adults.
The award, given annually by the Storylines Children's Literature Trust, is New Zealand's top award for achievement in children's literature.
"Fleur Beale's books have won her a large following among young readers," says Storylines Trust chair, Dr Libby Limbrick. "Since her first book Slide the Corner in 1993 she has published a significant body of more than thirty works of fiction.  Many have been shortlisted for awards, with her more recent books, such as the Esther Glenn winner Juno of Taris and 2011 New Zealand Post Senior Fiction winner Fierce September, taking top prizes."

A former secondary school teacher in Hamilton, Fleur Beale is also widely known as a popular creative writing teacher and mentor to young and new writers. She regular visits schools for the New Zealand Book Council. She has two adult daughters.
Her thirty books, many published in America and England, include the classic I am Not Esther, winner of the Gaelyn Gordon Award for a Much-Loved Book.
The Margaret Mahy Medal was instituted in 1991. Among its recipients have been writers Joy Cowley, William Taylor, Maurice Gee, David Hill and Kate De Goldi, publisher Ann Mallinson and illustrators Gavin Bishop and Lynley Dodd.
Fleur Beale will deliver her Mahy Lecture and the Storylines’ annual Margaret Mahy Day being held in Auckland on Saturday 31 March 2012. 
Margaret Mahy Award 2012