Montana Book Awards – We’ll Drink to That!

Media Release - Friday 2 June

Montana New Zealand Book Awards – We’ll Drink to That!

Independent publishing house, Craig Potton Publishing is toasting their success with the short-listing of four books as finalists in this year’s prestigious Montana New Zealand Book Awards.

The company, based in Nelson and employing 14 staff, specialises in quality non-fiction publishing throughout a range of genres.

“Usually we get one or two books nominated each year,” says publisher, Robbie Burton. “But to have four finalists is a real thrill, and a real testament to the quality authors, designers, editors and printers who we work with. We only published 10 books in 2005, 8 of which were submitted for the Montana Awards, so it’s not a bad strike rate.”

Most well-known for the photography and landscape books, calendars and posters by company founder, and principal, Craig Potton, in the past four years the company has gone from producing three-four mainly photographic tourist titles each year, to publishing 10-12 titles annually, only two of which featured Craig's work in 2005. Specialist subject areas are broadening and now include biography, natural history, photography, some selected fiction and poetry titles, and a growing emphasis on good quality information and reference titles.

“We’re lucky to have such talented authors willing to work with us, who recognise the fact that we’re not a huge organisation, but that we are uncompromising in our pursuit of excellence in everything that we do. It’s very satisfying and tremendous recognition for both the authors and the team of highly skilled and enthusiastic people who work here. It's a wonderful reflection of the real momentum we've been building up as our list increases each year.”

The winners will be announced during a gala ceremony at Sky City in Auckland on Monday, July 24 attended by Prime Minister, Helen Clark, and the New Zealand Publishing and Writing Community.

Finalists published by Craig Potton Publishing are:

Biography Category Charles Fleming, by Mary McEwen, RRP $49.99 Dingle: Discovering the Sense in Adventure, by Graeme Dingle, RRP $39.99

Reference and Anthology Category The Geographic Atlas of New Zealand, by Roger Smith/GeographX, RRP $79.99 The Nature of Things, edited by James Brown, photography by Craig Potton, RRP $34.99

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