DIO Student’s Sci-Fi Novel Nominated For Young Adult Award

DIO Student’s Sci-Fi Novel Nominated For Best Young Adult Award

A 15-year-old Diocesan student has had her first novel nominated for the Sir Julius Vogel awards which recognise various creative endeavours in the fields of science fiction, fantasy and horror.

Rowina De Silva’s 210-page paranormal novel Aria is one of six finalists in the Best Young Adult Novel category of the awards which fans will vote on ahead of this year’s National Science Fiction convention in June.

The awards are named after former Prime Minister Sir Julius Vogel who in 1889 wrote what is thought to be the first full length science fiction novel by a New Zealander. His book, Anno Domini 2000 – A woman’s Destiny, was a utopian view of a future New Zealand in which women held many positions of authority.

Rowina, who lives in St Heliers and is in Year 11 at Diocesan School for Girls, says she was so focused launching Aria in March that she did not give the awards much thought after she put her name forward at her publisher’s suggestion.

“It was really mind-blowing to get through to the finals because it was up to the public to vote, so plenty of people who don’t know me must want me to win.”

Aria was published in December by editor-publisher Adrienne Morris of AM Publishing who also edited the novel which Rowina started writing when she was 12.

She did three re-writes of her book over three years before 500 copies of it were printed in December and it was launched at the Botany Library on March 26. A school launch of the book will be held at Diocesan on May 13.

“The books sales are amazing. I had eight boxes of 30 books and I’m now down to two boxes and I haven’t even had the school book launch yet. So I’m looking forward to that.”

Rowina says she began writing because her jigsaw of a mind found the storylines of other novels appealing and inspirational.

“I read a lot of supernatural books and would imagine them ending in a certain way. When that did not happen I wanted to develop stories with my own endings.”

What began as a drama about a girl who had problems at school soon developed into a science fiction story about a girl fighter with extraordinary powers who is forced into a world of violence, fear and confusion to save her fellow fighters.

Aria is part of a planned trilogy and Rowina says she has written the first two chapters of the second book.

“My two friends who have read it agree it is going to be amazing. I feel as though it will be much bigger and bring more surprises. My writing has also improved since the first book.”

Rowina says she is set on following in her parents’ footsteps and training to be a doctor when she leaves school, but that writing will always be a sideline.
The other five finalists in Rowina’s category are Anna Mackenzie for Ebony Hill (Random House) Karen Healey for Guardian of the Dead (Allen and Unwin), Mandy Hager for Into the Wilderness (Random House), and Lyn McConchie for Summer of Dreaming (Cyberwizard Productions).

The 32nd National Science Fiction convention will be held in Parnell from June 3 to 6. To be eligible to vote for finalists in this year’s Sir Julius Vogel Awards you must be a member of Science Fiction and Fantasy Association of New Zealand (SFFANZ) or a member of the 2011 convention.

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