Writers Invited To Enter Mind, Body, Spirit Awards

For immediate release: 12 February 2009

New Zealand Writers Invited To Enter Mind, Body, Spirit Awards

-Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust Unpublished Manuscript and Book Awards 2009-

The Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust and the New Zealand Society of Authors are inviting all New Zealand writers with a passion for the mind, body, spirit genre to enter their work in the 2009 Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust literature awards.

Now in its sixth year, the Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust Literature Awards comprise two national awards that aim to recognise excellence in writing and authorship. The Awards offer some of the largest prizes for literature in New Zealand with two major prizes of $10,000 each – one for an unpublished manuscript and one for a published book.

Adonia Wylie, spokesperson for the Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust and member of the judging panel, says that the Trust’s founder, Ashton Wylie, was an Auckland businessman with spiritual awareness at the core of his interests, particularly in the area of personal development and positive relationships.

“In keeping with his legacy, the Book Awards were established to encourage the expansion of the mind, body and spirit literature genre in New Zealand,” says Ms Wylie.

“Over the past six years we have seen a definite growing public reception for the spiritual literature genre, with mind, body, spirit books topping bestseller lists and bookstores expanding their range to keep up with demand.”

Last year North Shore writer Imre Vallyon won the $10,000 published book award category for his work Heavens and Hells of the Mind, a four volume work that seeks to find a solution to the problems of humanity by invoking the true spiritual values of life which materialism can not provide.

“It was joyous and exhilarating to be named the winner,” says Mr Vallyon. “I hope there are many people in the world who are in true sympathy with spiritual values and spiritual energies who want to help to transform our world to be a better place to live in.”

Tina Shaw, Programme Manager, The New Zealand Society of Authors, says that the Awards are increasingly popular with New Zealand writers.

“Every year we have seen a growing number of quality entries, presenting a diverse range of values and beliefs. The awards offer great support to New Zealand writers, and I would encourage all New Zealand writers with an interest in the mind, body, spirit genre to enter.”

To be eligible for the awards, authors must be New Zealand citizens residing here. Unpublished manuscripts must be submitted by 31 March 2009, and be between 20,000 and 100,000 words in length. Published books must be submitted by 31 May 2009, should be 48 pages or longer, and must have been published between 1 April 2008 and 31 March 2009.

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

Submission forms and entry details are available from The New Zealand Society of Authors national office, phone: 09 379 4801, email: office@nzauthors.org.nz or post: PO Box 7701, Wellesley Street, Auckland 1141.

ENDS

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