We are pleased to announce that Glenn Colquhoun is the recipient of the 2009/10 NZSA Beatson Fellowship.
Glenn Colquhoun is a poet and children's writer. His first poetry collection The Art of Walking Upright won the NZSA Jessie Mackay Best First Book of Poetry at the 2000 Montana Book Awards. Playing God, his third collection, won the poetry category of the same awards in 2003, and he also became the first poet to be awarded the Montana Readers' Choice Award. He has written several children's books and has been a convener for the New Zealand Post Book Awards. He also published Jumping Ship in the Four Winds Press essay series. In 2004 he was awarded the Prize in Modern Letters.
Glenn will be working on a collaborative project with three musicians to produce a piece of music that echoes the soundscape of Kapiti Island. His contribution will be to provide the libretto for the project.
The selection panel found that the range of applications was particularly strong and diverse.
In 2008 the owners of the Foxton house, Peter and Dianne Beatson, generously offered to increase the stipend by $100 each year. Glenn will receive $6700, with the option of staying at the house.
The New Zealand Society of Authors would like to congratulate the ASA, its members and colleagues in the Australian publishing industry in their united, sustained and ultimately successful campaign to retain territorial copyright.
Australian Competition Minister Craig Emerson recently announced 'the Government has not accepted the Productivity Commission's recommendation to remove the parallel importation restrictions' (PIRs) on books. Instead, the government has opted for no change whatsoever to the current arrangements, including retaining the 30- and 90-day rules as they stand.' The announcement said that ‘in the circumstances of intense competition from online books and ebooks, the Government judged that changing the regulations governing book imports is unlikely to have any material effect on the availability of books in Australia'.
‘If books cannot be made available in a timely fashion and at a competitive price, customers will opt for online sales and e-books,' said the statement, which ended with the warning that ‘the Australian book printing and publishing industries will need to respond to the increasing competition from imports without relying on additional government assistance.'
“The ASA membership has once again demonstrated its quiet strength,” ASA Executive Director Dr Jeremy Fisher declared. “Our members have been constantly telephoning and writing to their parliamentary representatives pointing out how the removal of territorial copyright would destroy Australia’s literary culture and publishing industry. Their persistence has been rewarded. Our leaders have listened. Today’s announcement by Competition Minister Craig Emerson that the parallel importation restrictions in our Copyright Act will remain unchanged is a clear victory for Australia’s literary creators.”
The campaign on parallel importation has lasted more than a year and while many in the industry are celebrating the government's decision, few think the issues raised by the Productivity Commission study will go away. A rally organised by the Australians for Australian Books group, which includes the Australian Publishers Association, went ahead in Melbourne despite the government's decision.
Dr Fisher also acknowledged that the Australian publishing industry was facing significant pressures and authors needed to bear these in mind.
“Minister Emerson correctly highlights the fact that e-books and digital technology are having an impact on the Australian publishing industry,” Dr Fisher said. “The ASA welcomes change. We constantly seek new means to increase authors’ incomes. We are currently in discussions relating to fair contracts for authors with regard to e-books and products such as Kindle.”
The New Zealand Society of Authors issued a submission to the Australian Productivity Commission in December 2008 in support of the ASA. To view visit here
To read this full article visit Booksellers and Publishers Australia
Continuing Education Summer Writing Workshops 6-12 January at The University of Auckland.
Workshops include:
Freelance Journalism and Non-fiction Writing (Paul Smith); Write on the Road (Yvonne van Dongen); Writing Short Fiction (David Lyndon Brown); Introduction to Writing (Judith White); Narrative and the Novel (James George); Poetry Holiday (Siobhan Harvey); Writing Fiction for Children and Teenagers (Lorraine Orman); Life Writing (Deborah Shepard).
Venue: Epsom campus, 74 Epsom Ave. Plenty of FREE PARKING. For further information contact Continuing Education Ph: 0800 864 266 or www.cce.auckland.ac.nz
Fury after women writers excluded from 'books of the year' US trade magazine Publishers Weekly has come under fire for failing to include a single woman in its list of the top 10 titles of 2009. From Richard Holmes's history of science in the Romantic generation, The Age of Wonder, to Blake Bailey's Cheever: A Life, Geoff Dyer's novel Jeff in Venice, Death in Varanasi, Daniyal Mueenuddin's short story collection In Other Rooms, Other Wonders and David Small's graphic novel memoir Stitches, Publishers Weekly's all-male line-up has drawn the ire of a group of female writers. "The absence made me nearly speechless." said poet and creative writing professor Cate Marvin, co-founder of new US literary organisation Women in Letters and Literary Arts (WILLA). WILLA has gathered more than 5,500 members since it launched in August with the aim of bringing "increased attention to women's literary accomplishments and [questioning] the American literary establishment's historical slow-footedness in recognising and rewarding women writers' achievements". The group pointed to new books published this year by Lorrie Moore, Margaret Atwood, Alice Munro, Mavis Gallant, Rita Dove, Heather McHugh and Alicia Ostriker. "It continues to surprise me that literary editors are so comfortable with their bias toward male writing, despite the great and obvious contributions that women authors make to our contemporary literary culture," said Marvin. More..
Foreign media count cost of UK libel lawsBuzz up! Britain's reputation for "libel tourism" is driving American and foreign publishers to consider abandoning the sale of newspaper and magazines in Britain and may lead to them blocking access to websites, MPs have been warned. Publishers, human rights groups and campaigners have expressed "substantial and increasing concern" because comments that would be protected under the freedom of speech in the US constitution are actionable in London courts once published here, no matter how small the readership. A memorandum submitted to a Commons select committee, ahead of a meeting with US publishers, states: "Leading US newspapers are actively considering abandoning the supply of the 200-odd copies they make available for sale in London – mainly to Americans who want full details of their local news and sport. They do not make profits out of these minimal and casual sales and they can no longer risk losing millions of dollars in a libel action which they would never face under US law. Does the UK really want to be seen as the only country in Europe – indeed in the world – where important US papers cannot be obtained in print form?" More..
Linden MacIntyre takes Giller Prize Linden MacIntyre author of The Bishop's Man, is the winner of the 2009 Scotiabank Giller Prize. Mr. MacIntyre's novel about corruption in the Catholic church, The Bishop's Man , beat four highly regarded literary titles to take the main prize. Attributing his success to “an accident of consensus,” Mr. MacIntyre paid tribute to his fellow finalists and urged a glamorous crowd at Toronto's Four Seasons Hotel to “buy their books.” He also acknowledged his colleagues at the CBC and other struggling media outlets. “I just want to involve them in this,” he said. Mr. MacIntyre also paid tribute to the people of Cape Breton, among whom the novel is set, “and last but not least, the priests and nuns who are struggling to do their jobs in spite of the failures of their leadership.” More..
A protocol was signed this week to mark the formation of a book industry alliance between the National Library of New Zealand and the Publishers Association of New Zealand, Booksellers New Zealand, New Zealand Book Council, New Zealand Book Month and the New Zealand Society of Authors.
“We formed the alliance to establish closer working relationships and to work together to promote and celebrate books“ Penny Carnaby National Librarian and Chief Executive, National Library of New Zealand.
In support of the protocol Wellington head librarians have pledged to read a book every month and challenge all kiwis to do the same. The group includes Moira Fraser from the Parliamentary Library, Jane Hill from Wellington City Library, Sue Roberts from Victoria University Library and Penny Carnaby National Library.
“Imagine if all kiwis aged 15 and over read a book a month, that’s over 40 million books a year” Penny Carnaby.
The book industry alliance aims to maximise the economic, cultural and social benefits for all organisations involved in New Zealand’s book and publishing industry.
A strategy to promote readership and celebrate books in New Zealand will be developed. The strategy will also explore ways to boost digital sales in New Zealand and internationally.
“As an organisation that believes the future of our written word is in the hands of all Kiwi’s, New Zealand Book Month is delighted to be part of the alliance,” says Mary Robbins of New Zealand Book Month. “It is essential that our industry work together to highlight common initiatives and speak with one voice when needed.”
Tony Simpson from the New Zealand Society of Authors (NZSA) "New Zealand's identity is bound up with its literature. We all have a responsibility to nurture and promote it. That responsibility lies first and foremost with the libraries, writers, booksellers and publishers of this country and we in the NZSA are delighted to see this coming together to achieve that objective."
The group will meet regularly to discuss issues such as copyright and intellectual property and identify improvements or flag issues about the Public Lending Right for the New Zealand Authors Act 2008.
We have been doing our research to establish what is working with the new website. Since its launch on 1 April 2009 it has received a staggering 98,910 hits.
Not surprisingly, the newsletter details received the biggest number of hits with 15,503, but the most exciting news is the second and third most successful pages on the site : View Writer Profile (with 6,486 hits) and Find a Writer (with 6,317 hits). It is also encouraging to see that the new NZ PEN & Freedom Page received 1,054 hits during this period.
The Writer Profile that appears on the home page randomly selects a member's profile to be displayed provided the member has selected the public domain and has a photo and bio available. If you haven't updated your profile and would like to do so don't hesitate to contact us on programmes@nzauthors.org.nz to get help with this.
Since the launch, we have acquired 189 new members taking our current membership to 1,298 - its highest ever.
The statistics also show us what isn't working, and the area with one of the least hits is the Online Bookshop & Publications with only 8 hits over these 226 days. Consequently we are reviewing this section of the site and will be publishing a survey for members to complete next week; we have some new ideas and would like your feedback.
You only have until Monday 16 November to register at the special Earlybird rate of $160+GST for the seminar that will show you how to market books and ebooks online.
Full details and a registration form are on their website at www.digitalpublishing.org.nz/events.
Led by Random House of Canada's Heather Sanderson are hands-on practitioners who will show you: How the internet is changing book marketing How to build a global online publishing business from New Zealand How to use social networking and online community-building to market books and ebooks Email list-building strategies: Why great lists can (still) be your best marketing asset What makes Amazon the world's most successful bookseller and what you can learn from them How Search Engine Optimisation and web analytics help you attract visitors and measure success of campaigns Plus numerous case studies, examples and ideas to learn from and try in your own business
This great value workshop runs in Auckland from 9:00-4:30pm on 2 December. It's just $160+GST ($180) for members of the Publishers' Association (BPANZ), NZ Society of Authors, Booksellers NZ and CLL-mandated publishers. Normal rate after 16 November is $360 so register online today at http://digitalpublishing.org.nz/events.
Short Story Competition - Deadline 31 January 2010
The best entries will be included in an anthology of New Zealand science fiction and fantasy to be published by Random Static Press. The anthology will be launched at Au Contraire. All stories accepted for the anthology will be paid for as well as receiving a contributor's copy of the book, and there will be an additional prize for the overall winner.
Entries should be connected in some way to the convention theme "the future is a foreign country"; a New Zealand setting or link is a bonus, but not essential. Stories should be under 7000 words, and in general, as long as they need to be but not a word longer. Stories should not condone racism, sexism, homophobia, etc, and any graphic violence or explicit sex should be appropriate to the story and not simply for its own sake. Other than that they are open to a broad range.
The number of winning entries will depend upon the quality of submissions; Random Static will only publish works of suitable standard.
Email your story to anthology@aucontraire.org.nz or post to PO Box 10104, Wellington. Include a cover page with the title and your name and contact details; do not include your name on any other page. Please ensure email submissions are sent in a widely recognised file format; RTF is good. Postal submissions cannot be returned, so don't send your only copy.
For further detailas visit
For up-to-date information on Digital Publishing visit our Digital Page on our website
Technology is stalking your bookcase. It has already taken over your photo albums and emptied your film canisters. It overwhelmed your music collection and flooded Goodwill with CD towers. It canceled your newspaper subscription. (Sniff, tear.) And now, digital evangelicals believe technology is on the verge of supplanting those dusty, yellowed tomes that weigh three times more than an iPod and don't even come with any cool free apps. Sales of electronic books jumped 68.4 percent last year and skyrocketed 177 percent to $96.6 million for the year through August, according to the Association of American Publishers. That's not counting the millions downloaded for free at public libraries, where e-books are fast becoming one of the most popular features. And Amazon has said that its e-book reader, the Kindle, has become the best-selling product on its Web site. But despite the staggering growth, e-books remain just a sliver of the overall publishing industry, at 1.5 percent of the $6.8 billion in sales this year -- about on par with audiobooks. And some experts believe that the $200-plus price tag for e-book readers will keep the market from exploding the way MP3s did. More...
Schools shun Kindle, saying blind can't use it Amazon's Kindle can read books aloud, but if you're blind it can be difficult to turn that function on without help. Now two universities say they will shun the device until Amazon changes the setup. The National Federation of the Blind announced Wednesday that the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Syracuse University in New York won't consider big rollouts of the electronic reading device unless Amazon makes it more accessible to visually impaired students. Both schools have some Kindles that they bought for students to try this fall, but now they say they won't look into buying more unless Amazon makes changes to the device. More..
The National Library, which houses the Alexander Turnbull Library, needs to move its people and public access to collections from the current Molesworth Street building in Wellington to make way for a building redevelopment which will address issues with collection storage and space.
The National Library wishes to advise that they have now finalised their relocation plans and alternative locations. A brochure is available providing full details of the move, key dates and their new alternative locations. More information about the building redevelopment and collection access is also available on their website www.natlib.govt.nz/building
The Molesworth Street building will close in early December and onsite access to some collections will be available at alternative locations in central Wellington as outlined in the brochure.
The building redevelopment will fix leaks on the Library's roof and ground floor plaza level, replace obsolete systems that no longer work properly, upgrade plant and machinery and optimise research spaces. It will also provide room to store the collections for the next twenty years. Additionally through the redevelopment period they plan to add up to a million digital items online.
The National Library assures us that it will take the greatest care with the collections during this redevelopment work. It is a significant milestone in the history of the National Library and on their return in 2012 they will deliver a revitalised new generation national library open and accessible to all New Zealanders.
With the country’s first and largest Wordbank officially closed for business, New Zealand Book Month, ASB and children’s authors from across the country are delighted at how Kiwi kids have put pen to paper to express their appreciation for the worth of our New Zealand words.
Nearly 3,000 ASB Wordbank entries were received from children aged 5-13 years, and from every part of New Zealand. Kiwi kids were asked to write a letter to their favourite Kiwi author, telling them why they love their books and stories, and then post or drop their words into their nearest ASB branch.
The winner in the 5-7 years of age category was Isla Thompson of Mt Eden, Auckland, writing about Auckland based author Jennifer Beck’s The Choosing Day. Runner up was Brian Kim of Sunnynook, Auckland, writing about Rats by Christchurch based author and illustrator Gavin Bishop.
The winner in the 8-10 years of age category was Joe Perry of Napier, writing about Jennifer Beck’s The Bantam and the Soldier. Runner up was Devan Ngataaria Hammond of Papamoa writing about Maurice Gee’s Under the Mountain.
The winner in the 11-13 years of age category was Cheyenne Kumeroa of Palmerston North writing about Kingi McKinnon’s story Hohepa’s Goodbye from Huia Short Stories Vol 1. Runner up was Lucas Netana-Rakete of Royal Oak, Auckland, writing about Footrot Flats: They’ve put custard with my bone! (my compliments to the chef) by Murray Ball. The judges in this 11-13 age category particularly noted the fantastic standard of entries from Auckland’s Royal Oak Intermediate School and have recommended the school for a special commendation and prize.
ASB is delighted to have been involved with New Zealand Book Month, providing school children with the opportunity to read more Kiwi books and share their views about those books with the authors.
ASB's Chief Community Partnership Officer, Linley Wood says “ASB has a long history of partnering with New Zealand schools and school children to help improve their literacy and educational outcomes. This is just one way we can encourage children in the communities in which we operate to read more and express their views about what they are reading. It is great to see so many Kiwi kids getting involved and our ASB people have loved talking to the children coming into the branches to drop off their ASB Wordbank entries.”
All six winners and runners up of the ASB Wordbank will be invited to behind the scenes visits to Auckland Zoo and the set of the television show Shortland Street, and a ride in a restored Hot Rod car.
Schools and local libraries are winners too with the best performing ASB Wordbank branches receiving an author visit and a pack of books, which they can choose to donate to a local school or library. The winning ASB branches are in Hokitika, Helensville, Warkworth, The Palms – Shirley (Christchurch) and Point Chevalier.
A large crowd of about 60 attended the opening of the Eileen Duggan Green on 7 October at Tuamarina near Blenheim. The small park was created to honour Marlborough born writer Eileen Duggan, and funded as part of Marlborough’s 150th anniversary celebrations. Born at Tuamarina in 1894, Eileen Duggan, a poet with an international reputation, was awarded an OBE for services to literature in 1937 – one of the first New Zealand writers to be recognised in this way.
Two park benches with plantings of horopito at each end surround the memorial plaque made of Takaka marble. It takes the form of a book and contains a verse from the poem: The Tides Run up the Wairau. To begin the ceremony a Catholic priest blessed the site. Deputy Mayor Jenny Andrews spoke of Eileen Duggan's contribution to literature and acknowledged that it was time she was commemorated in Marlborough.
Marjorie Baker, as one of the initiators of the idea of a memorial, read a poem by Eileen Duggan and spoke of spending 10 shillings on a book of her poetry 60 years ago. Her husband who had given her the money as a 21st birthday present is reported to have said: ‘You spent my 10 shillings on a book!’
There is also a plaque for Eileen Duggan (1894-1972), as part of the Wellington Writers Walk.
For more information about PEN and articles from around the world visit our Freedom Page
LAUNCHING AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL NEW ZEALAND'S MEDIA NETWORK AUCKLAND (Amnesty International NZ/Pacific Media Watch): Writing a critical article about the New Zealand Government would not result in the delivery of death threats to your home. Nor would writing a blog post about organising a peaceful protest find your car riddled with bullets. For some journalists around the world, these scenarios are their reality. This is the price they pay for doing their job without censorship and limitation.
Amnesty International Aotearoa New Zealand is this month launching a Media Network to promote and protect the basic human right to freedom of expression and its defenders, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region. "Almost 50 years ago, Amnesty International grew out of a newspaper article printed in the United Kingdom's The Observer. Human rights lawyer Peter Benenson wrote "The Forgotten Prisoners', which urged people to take action to stop political persecution," says Margaret Taylor, Amnesty's Activism Support Manager. "Freedom of expression has always been a core part of Amnesty International's work, and the media have long been at the forefront of the human rights struggle."
"Media workers are also human rights defenders in their own right because their actions depend on, and fuel, freedom of expression. For simply telling the truth they are often targets of abuse."
Through the Media Network, Amnesty International is encouraging New Zealand media to open up a wider dialogue on human rights. The Network will offer journalists direct access to the organisation's independent research and experts around the world. "Human rights abuses can be prevented, or at least punished, when they are exposed by the media," says Taylor.
Amnesty International's Media Network launch event will take place on Courage Day (15 November), marking the International Day of the Imprisoned Writer.
For further information or to join Amnesty International's Media Network, please contact Pui-yi Cheng on 09 303 4526 or media@amnesty.org.nz
Anti-government blogs in Fiji say they're being blocked Some anti-government blogs in Fiji are reporting that their readers are finding it impossible to read them. Several of the websites are reportedly blocked in such a way that people using Fiji-based internet service providers cannot access them. Radio Australia has been contacted by internet users in Fiji who report their attempts to read those blogs result in their computer constantly trying to connect and finally giving an error message. The operator of one of the anti-government blogs, Coup Four Point Five, whose voice we have electronically disguised, says it's clear that something or someone is interfering with internet access in Fiji. To read or listen to the interview visit www.radioaustralia.net.au/pacbeat/stories/200911/s2737726.htm
INTERNATIONAL: WIPC ISSUES A CALL FOR SOLIDARITY FOR PERSECUTED WRITERS To mark the Day of the Imprisoned Writer (DoIW) on 15 November, the Writers in Prison Committee of International PEN (WiPC) is highlighting the cases of imprisoned writers and honouring those who have been slain for defending free speech. WiPC is calling on all activists and writers to show solidarity on behalf of persecuted writers by sending appeals to authorities. This year WiPC is shining a spotlight on five people from around the world.
WiPC is urgently asking for help for two dissidents facing long prison sentences.
Chinese writer Liu Xiaobo, former president and current board member of the Independent Chinese PEN Centre, has been detained since 8 December 2008, for advocating political reform and the protection of human rights. He was charged in June 2009 with "incitement to subversion of state power." If convicted, he faces up to 15 years in prison. He has had limited access to his lawyer and family. He has a long history of human rights activism and has been harassed, arrested, imprisoned and censored on numerous occasions. Liu Xiaobo first received support from International PEN in 1989 after he was arrested for protesting in Tiananmen Square.
The other imprisoned dissident that WiPC is focusing on is singer/songwriter Lapiro de Mbanga who has been detained since April 2008 and was fined US$640,000 for writing a song critical of Cameroonian President Paul Biya. He is serving a three-year sentence for alleged complicity in anti-government riots. In October, it was reported that he was suffering from typhoid fever.
WiPC also continues to advocate for Maziar Bahari, a journalist, playwright and filmmaker with dual Iranian and Canadian citizenship who was detained during this year's media crackdown after the disputed Iranian presidential elections in June. After four months in Tehran's Evin prison he was released on bail on 17 October. Although he is now in the U.K., Bahari still faces charges.
The 15 November campaign is also an effort to remember killed journalists and bring attention to the dangers their colleagues continue to face. For more information on each of these cases and on where to send specific appeals, please contact Sara Whyatt sara.whyatt@internationalpen.org.uk or Tamsin Mitchell tamsin.mitchell@internationalpen.org.uk
The New Zealand Society of Authors is proud to introduce a new and relevant benefit for our members:
Affordable, quality travel insurance.
Whether it's protection for your trip, possessions or your health, travel insurance has become an essential item to pack for smart travellers.
Simply go to https://aigtravel.co.nz/authors to take advantage of this offer.
If things go wrong on your next holiday, AIG travel insurance can protect you against the potential high cost of:
· Overseas medical & hospital expenses · Flight delays · Trip cancellations · Stolen and lost luggage · Airlines going into financial default · Rental Vehicle Excess
And much more! Plus you have access to 24/7 emergency assistance from AIG Travel Assist.
On the mountains of truth you can never climb in vain: either you will reach a point higher up today, or you will be training your powers so that you will be able to climb higher tomorrow. -Friedrich Nietzsche, philosopher (1844-1900)
We've all got both light and dark inside us. What matters is the part we choose to act on. That's who we really are. -J.K. Rowling, author (b. 1965)
New Zealand Fiction – Week ending 7/11/09 1 The Trowenna Sea - Witi Ihimaera (Raupo) 2 The 10pm Question - Kate De Goldi ( Longacre) 3 Access Road - Maurice Gee (Penguin) 4 Knotted - Michelle Homan (HarperCollins) 5 Mister Pip - Lloyd Jones (Penguin)
The above list is compiled from locally produced publications only.
New Zealand Non-Fiction – Week ending 7/11/09 1 Billy T: The Life and Times of Billy T. James - Matt Elliott (HarperCollins) 2 Just in Time to be Too Late: Why Men are Like Buses - Peta Mathias (Penguin) 3 Dust to Gold: The Inspiring Story of Bendigo Station - John Perriam (Random) 4 The Aunt Daisy Cookbook - Barbara Basham (Hachette) 5 The Kiwi Trucker's Guide to Life - Tim Chadwick (HarperCollins) 6 Go Fish - Al Brown (Random) 7 Line of Fire - John Lockyer (Penguin) 8 Richie McCaw: A Tribute to a Modern-day Rugby Great - John Matheson (HarperCollins) 9 Cook: Delicious Recipes for Family and Friends - Allyson Gofton (Penguin) 10 Ali's Book of Tall Tales: Random Thoughts from the 2nd Row - Ali Williams & James Griffin (Hachette)
New Zealand Fiction & Non Fiction – Children & Teens - Week ending 7/11/09 1 The Wonky Donkey - Craig Smith (Scholastic) 2 Herbert: The Brave Sea Dog - Robyn Belton (Craig Potton) 3 Ben and Mark: Boys of the High Country - John Bougen & Christine Fernyhough (Random) 4 A Kiwi Night Before Christmas - Yvonne Morrison (Scholastic) 5 The Word Witch - Margaret Mahy (HarperCollins)
Get your book listed on Nielsen BookData-Online and sell more books
To ensure booksellers, libraries and specialist resellers know about your book, both locally and internationally, you must tell us about it.
We provide a free bibliographic listing of your published titles. Send us your book information now by downloading a Title Record Form from our web site: www.nielsenbookdata.co.nz or contacting our editorial team on 0800 447 029 or data@nielsenbookdata.co.nz.
New books by members (if you have a new book send a jpg of the cover and a brief synopsis and we will put it in the bookshop for FREE for one month. Send to programmes@nzauthors.org.nz) Lloyd Geering's book Coming Back to Earth - From gods to God to Gaia, is being publised in the United States by Polebridge Press, Salem, Oregon.
Do we have your membership subscription? During October we received a direct payment into our cheque account of $110 - obviously for a membership subscription. Unfortunately the references on the bank account doesn't match any new or renewed memberships in our records. If you paid your sub in October and haven't heard from us, can you contact Jan on office@nzauthors.org.nz or 09 379 4801 and let us know. We will need you to give us the date of the payment and the reference details so that we know it is definitely your payment. We look forward to hearing from you.
The French Connection Sunday 22 November 2009 from 1-2.30 pm FREE SESSION at Dunedin Public Art Gallery, 30 The Octagon, Dunedin To celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Katherine Mansfield Menton Fellowship, now known as the New Zealand Post Mansfield Prize, Dunedin Art Gallery hosts a panel session with Owen Marshall, Philip Temple, Fiona Farrell and current Burns Fellows, Michael Harlow. These prominent South Island writers will talk about their experiences of living in France, writing in a room at the Villa Isola Bella where Mansfield once lived, and about the impact this unique fellowship has had on their literary career. Chair: Richard Cathie This session is dedicated to the late Janet Frame who was also a previous holder of the fellowship.
Events at Takapuna Library The Friends of the Takapuna Library and author Jenny Harrison cordially invite you to the launch of Accidental Hero on Thursday, 19 November 2009, Takapuna Library, The Strand, Takapuna - 6:00pm for 6:30 pm start
Bestselling South African author Jenny Harrison, now resident on the North Shore, has published several books, both fiction and non-fiction. Her fiction, including The Indigo Kid, is published under her pseudonym Wren Harris. Her self-help book to assist immigrants: A New Life in New Zealand, has been a runaway success. RSVP to Helen Woodhouse, ph 486 8469 or email helenw@shorelibraries.govt.nz
Poetic Justice Wanaka Where: Kai Whaka Pai, Ardmore St When: 16 November, 7.30 Open Mic Poetry Night – all welcome to read, all welcome to watch. Bottle of wine goes to best poem! More info: http://poeticjusticewanaka.wordpress.com/
Poetry Live Tuesday 17th November – 8 pm Thirsty Dog, K’Rd, koha Guest Poets The Faction Open mic; MC Murray
C K Stead and Marti Friedlander Saturday 14 November, 1pm Auckland Join us for readings and discussion with C K Stead, whose Collected Poems, 1951-2006 (AUP) features a Marti Friedlander portrait on the cover. Stead is also featured in further portraits in the Marti Friedlander book and exhibition. Free entry - Gus Fisher Gallery, 74 Shortland Street
Debate submissions AUT's glossy, full colour student magazine Debate are developing a weekly creative writing page. Please send short fiction, prose, poetry, novel excerpts and anything inbetween to Michael Botur at flukeman@rocketmail.com . The word limit is 1800 words. Your submission should be accompanied by a short biography of the author, up to forty words.
Debate has a readership of 10,000 so this is a good opportunity to be exposed to a wide audience. Submissions must be received by Wednesday morning each week. Your work will be proof-read but not edited
The New Zealand Poetry Society's The last public meeting of the year will be held at the Thistle Inn, 3 Mulgrave St, Wellington, on Monday 16 November, at 7.30pm. The final guest for 2009 is poet, playwright, director and actor Charlotte Simmonds, whose first collection, The World's Fastest Flower, was released in 2008. The book was a finalist in the category NZSA Best First Book of Poetry for the 2009 Montana Book Awards. Entry is $2 and the meeting will start with an open mic. All welcome.
Script to Screen A Debate: Writers should write, directors should direct (and never the twain shall meet) Auckland, 24 November, 7pm drinks, 7.30 start, The Classic, 321 Queen Street, generous koha appreciated Gaylene Preston, Nick Ward, Taika Waititi, Oliver Driver, Kathryn Burnett & Paolo Rotondo come together with MC Ella Henry to bring you a comic yet magnificent fight over the validity of the auteur. Be there for our final event of 2009 and stay afterwards for beer coutesy of Stella Artois and pizza courtesy of Nga Aho Whakaari.
Kim Hill Saturday programme interviews online If you don’t get to listen to Kim Hill’s interviews with writers on Saturdays you can always go to the Radio NZ Website and listen to the interviews once they post them: http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/saturday Saturday 14 November 2009: The American Future by Simon Schama (Vintage) NB. Interview with Simon Schmama - His many other books include the History of Britain trilogy, and during the interview, the following books are also discussed: Letters from an American Farmer, by J. Hector St. John De Crevecoeur; The History of the Peloponnesian War, by Thucydides; The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, by Edward Gibbon. It Takes a Pillage: Behind the Bailouts, Bonuses, and Backroom Deals from Washington to Wall Street by Nomi Prins (John Wiley & Sons) NB. Interview with Nomi Prins Fletchers: a Centennial History of Fletcher Building by Paul Goldsmith (David Ling). NB. Interview with Hugh Fletcher
Children's Books with Kate De Goldi Kate De Goldi will discuss the work of prolific British writer Alison Uttley (1884-1976), creator of Little Grey Rabbit, Sam Pig and many other much-loved characters.
The Arts on Sunday The ‘Arts on Sunday’ is hosted by Lynn Freeman and airs every Sunday afternoon on Radio New Zealand National. Find more information about the 'Arts on Sunday' on the Radio NZ National website: http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/artsonsunday On Sunday 15 November, interviews and discussions will feature the following books: Way Back Then, Before we were Ten edited by Graeme Lay (David Ling) An Imitation of Life - Laura Soloman (Solidus) The Word Witch: the magical verse of Margaret Mahy, edited by Tessa Duder (HarperCollins) - Lynn will be talking to illustrator, David Elliot
WEEKDAY BOOK READINGS NINE TO NOON 10.45am Monday 16 - Friday 20 November The Vintner's Luck - Elizabeth Knox; eps 6-10 (of 15) (Victoria University Press) AFTERNOONS 2.30pm Monday 16 - Friday 20 November Blessed Are - Sara-Kate Lynch; eps 1-5 (of 10) (Black Swan)
Sunday 15 November 3.04pm Who Wants To Be 100 - Roger Hall; eps 2 (of 2) (Radio New Zealand) ALL NIGHT PROGRAMME 3.15am Saturday 14 - Wednesday 18 November How To Watch A Bird - Steve Braunias; eps 6-10 (of 10) (Awa Press) Thursday 19 November The New Barmaid (Radio New Zealand) Friday, 20 November Caught On The Beach (Radio New Zealand) Books on TV Next week 'Good Morning' interviews award-winning author Jessica Le Bas about her latest book Walking To Africa (Auckland University Press), a story told through poetry which explores her deeply personal experiences with mental health care. 'Good Morning' book reviewer Laura Kroetsch is giving an overview of the upcoming New Zealand Post Writers and Readers Festival and reviewing works by featured authors: Anansi Boys, by Neil Gaiman (Headline); Alligator, by Lisa Moore (Virago) and The Good Parents by Joan London (Vintage Australia).
Christchurch Plains FM Ruth Todd & Morrin Rout talk with newly published writers every Saturday morning between 10.00 - midday on WOMEN ON AIR on Plains FM 96.9 www.womenonair.org.nz
Dunedin community radio (Hills FM) "Write On" is the radio show of the Otago Southland branch of the NZSA. It airs on Toroa Radio AM 1575 kHz from 12.00 - 1.00pm on the second Wednesday of each month. Information on individual shows available on http://writeonradioshow.blogspot.com/
A list of all those important deadlines...
NZSA BOOKSHOP Did you know that members can list their books new publications on the Website Bookshop for one month for FREE. Send in a jpg of the cover and a brief synopsis to programmes@nzauthors.org.nz
The next issue will be on Friday 20 November 2009
Please send any news you'd like to share with other members to Chief Executive, NZ Society of Authors (PEN NZ Inc) P O 7701 Wellesley Street, Auckland 1141: Phone/fax: 09 379 4801
Email: director@nzauthors.org.nz
This enews is primarily for members of the NZ Society of Authors and our partners in the writing and publishing industry. While it is impossible to prevent anyone from copying or reproducing any part of this newsletter we would appreciate acknowledgement as the source.