The New Zealand Society of Authors (PEN NZ Inc), Hachette Australia and Hachette New Zealand are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2019 NZSA / Hachette Mentor Program.

Congratulations to J S Michaels who has been chosen to work on a new draft of her manuscript under Hachette Australia’s guidance, receiving constructive critique on the manuscript from an Hachette editor. The resulting manuscript may be considered by Hachette for publication within 6 months of the writer delivering a new draft.

JS Michaels is a young Auckland based writer with hands in many pies – as a creative, an academic, and a mental health worker. Her writing explores contemporary issues of politics, identity, and biculturalism. Beneath is her first novel, born out of her deep love of New Zealand and her unsettlement with the too-oft ignored dark side to the beautiful country she calls home.

Publisher Sophie Hamley of Hachette Australia and Alison Shucksmith of Hachette New Zealand received 84 submissions; Hamley commented: ‘Yet again, there was a very high standard of writing in the submissions – clearly writers in New Zealand have fantastic ideas, and the talent and diligence to explore them. It’s been the case every year that there are several writers we’d like to choose, but unfortunately we can’t choose them all. JS Michaels’s Beneath starts powerfully and introduces a bold new voice with a compelling story to tell.’

This program is proudly presented by Hachette Australia and Hachette New Zealand in partnership with The New Zealand Society of Authors (PEN NZ Inc.) Te Puni Kaituhi O Aotearoa.