New Zealand Authors Recognised with Top Literary Prizes

NEW ZEALAND AUTHORS RECOGNISED WITH TOP LITERARY PRIZES
- Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust Unpublished Manuscript and Book Awards -

Two New Zealand authors have been awarded top prizes at the distinguished Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust Unpublished Manuscript and Book Awards and received $10,000.

The Unpublished Manuscript Award was won by Wiremu NiaNia, Allister Bush and David Epston for their manuscript entitled Tātaihono: Stories of Maori Healing and Psychiatry, while the premium Book Award was won by Sir Lloyd Geering for his book entitled From the Big Bang to God.

Judges said NiaNia, Bush and Epston’s manuscript stood out as an extremely well compiled, revealing and enlightening piece of work.

“Some of the case studies are tragic and compelling at the same time. This work presents an important aspect of Maori culture and healing that needs to see the light of day,” said convenor of judges Bob Ross.

Mr Ross also called Sir Lloyd’s work published by Steele Roberts Aotearoa “a giant of a book in terms of depth of understanding and execution from one of New Zealand’s greatest theological thinkers”.

“It presents a clear analysis of the evolution of the universe, life and humanity. It is well researched and presented and it strongly emphasises that the future of the human race rests on our shoulders. We are God,” he said.

Award director, Tim Eddington said the 2014 awards attracted a significant response from New Zealand writers.

“The 2014 Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust Unpublished Manuscript and Book Awards received an impressive number of written works and the calibre of entries submitted was very high.”

Judges for the 2014 Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust Literature Awards were Bob Ross, Mike Alexander and Mary Egan.

Joan Rosier-Jones and Michael Henderson were guest speakers at the event.

Breakdown of Award placings:

Published Book category-
1. Sir Lloyd Geering: From the Big Bang to God
2. Harriet Rowland: The Book of Hat (Posthumously)
3. Joy Cowley: Notes to a Friend
4. Brian Broom (Editor): Transforming Clinical Practice Using the MindBody Approach
5. Mike Ansari: The Perfect I

Unpublished Manuscript category-
1. Wiremu Nia Nia, Allister Bush, David Epston: T¬ātaihono: Stories of Maori Healing and Psychiatry
2. Cathryn Monro: Spilt Milk Yoga – the Sadhana of Motherhood
3. Norman Maclean: Pharisees and Fallacies
4. Wendy Ward: The Elysian Fields
5. Mike Johnson: The Angel of Compassion

ENDS

NOTES:

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

To be eligible for the awards, writers must be NZ citizens, or permanent residents, residing in the country. Unpublished manuscripts must be submitted by 31 March 2014 and be a minimum of 20,000 words in length. Published books must be submitted by 31 May 2014, should be 48 pages or longer and must have been published between 1 April 2013 and 31 March 2014.

ABOUT THE ASHTON WYLIE CHARITABLE TRUST

The late Auckland businessman Ashton Wylie was a philanthropist with a wide range of interests particularly in the area of personal development and positive relationships. The Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust was set up at Ashton's request and was named after him.

Ashton Wylie believed that if one wanted to change the world, one had to first change oneself. Changes are then made by example as ultimately, one can change for the better others that reside within one’s sphere of influence.

The Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust was set up following Ashton Wylie’s death in 1999 with the focus of inspiring loving human relationships.

For further information visit: www.awct.org.nz

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