Calling All New Zealand Writers

2 May 2007

Calling All New Zealand Writers: Last Chance To Enter Annual Literature Award

-Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust Book Award closes 31 May-

New Zealand writers have just four weeks left to enter their work in the 2007 Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust Book Award.

The Ashton Wyle Charitable Trust, in association with the New Zealand Society of Authors (NZSA), offers two national awards that aim to recognise excellence in writing in the mind, body, spirit genre.

The Book Award, a single award of $10,000, is one of the largest prizes awarded for literature in New Zealand. Entries for the award must be submitted by 31 May 2007, should be 48 pages or longer, and must have been published between 1 April 2006 and 31 March 2007.

Another single award of $10,000 will be given to the winner of the Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust Unpublished Manuscript Award. Entries for the Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust Unpublished Manuscript Award closed at the end of March.

Tina Shaw, Programme Manager, NZ Society of Authors, says they have received a great number of quality entries for the awards.

"We've had a great response to the Unpublished Manuscript Award which closed on 31 March, and the early indications are that the Book Award will be just as hotly contested.

"Each year there is increasing interest in the Awards, emphasising the growing popularity of mind, body, spirit literature.

"It is not too late for writers to enter as there are still three weeks left until entries close and I would strongly encourage New Zealand writers to submit their works for the chance to win this great award."

Judges for the awards include author and editor Stephen Stratford, author Richard Webster, Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust trustee Adonia Wylie and Jennifer Eddington, owner of Pathfinder Bookshop.

The awards will be presented at a ceremony at the Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust's own venue, Hopetoun Alpha in Auckland in August.

To be eligible for the awards, authors must be New Zealand citizens residing here. Submission forms and entry details are available from The New Zealand Society of Authors national office programmes@nzauthors.org.nz or via post, PO Box 67-013, Mt Eden, Auckland 1349.

ENDS

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