This national short story competition is organised by NZSA Top of the South branch and sponsored by Nelson’s Page & Blackmore Booksellers. The judge this year is Tina Shaw, who is the author of several novels, for both adults and children. Her short stories have been published in many anthologies, literary journals and magazines, and she has received various awards.

Entries to the competition are restricted to the first 125 received. For an entry fee of $20, each story will be given feedback from an experienced writer. The judge will provide a written assessment of the ten short-listed stories. The top three entries receive book vouchers from Page & Blackmore to the value of: First, $250; Second, $100, Third, $50.

The word limit is 1500 words, and the closing date is 1 April. The results of the competition will be announced at the 2016 Top of the South branch AGM on Saturday 7 May in Nelson.

The full conditions of entry and an entry form for the 2016 Page & Blackmore Short Story Competition can be downloaded from http://www.topwriters.co.nz/page–blackmore-short-story-competition.html.