The New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi O Aotearoa and Text Publishing are delighted to announce the longlist for the Michael Gifkins Prize for an Unpublished Novel 2023.

The longlisted writers are: G.M. Allen, Jane Bitomsky, Tina Cartwright, Oliver Clifton, Thom Conroy, Rachel J Fenton, Danielle Heyhoe, Anne Lochead, Alex Lodge, Heidi North, Joe Parker, Tina Shaw, Andrew Spittle, Helen Waaka, Phoebe Wright.

This year’s longlist of 15 high-quality manuscripts were selected by New Zealand writers Michelle Elvy and Ruby Porter. They commented: ‘A strong and surprising collection of manuscripts that delighted with each re-reading. We applaud the writers who submitted – it is no small feat to finish a manuscript and enter it into a competition. And we applaud the writers for the quality and depth of their submissions. There were stories that explored reality in new ways, ranging from historical fiction to family sagas to current-day academics and politics. There were stories written with great suspense and mystery. Some were whimsical and wacky; some were shiny and elegiac. The submissions that stood out most were the ones that developed their characters and guided the reader with a steady hand. But the best manuscripts also took risks and explored their creative voice in exciting ways. The titles on the long list represent works that achieved this confluence of skill and originality, from beginning to end.’

Congratulations to the longlisted writers!

The shortlist for the Michael Gifkins Prize for an Unpublished Novel 2023 will be announced on 5 May.

Previous winners of the Gifkins Prize are Ruby Porter (Attraction), Tom Remiger (Soldiers), Gigi Fenster (A Good Winter), Tom Baragwanath (Paper Cage) and Emma Sidnam with Backwaters, which is slated for publication  later in 2022.

The Gifkins Prize is made possible by a generous financial commitment from the Gifkins family and from Text Publishing. It is administered by the NZ Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi o Aotearoa (PEN NZ Inc). Entries for the 2023 prize will open in late July.