The Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi is thrilled to announce the inaugural recipient of the Lynley Dodd Children’s Writers Award: Janine Williams, known to many by her pen name J.L. Williams.
Whangarei-based author Janine is known for her compelling historical junior fiction and dedication to crafting stories that capture young readers’ hearts across the country. Her first novel, Holding the Horse, was shortlisted in the NZSA Best First Book category at the 2023 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults, and received a Storylines Notable Book Award in 2022. The sequel, Like the Wind, also received a Storylines Notable Book Award in 2023.
An independent panel, made up of New Zealand authors David Hill, Tim Tipene, and Tessa Duder, selected Janine to receive a $30,000 gift to support her ongoing work. The panel considered an impressive longlist of nominees and said,“Janine Williams came closest to fulfilling Dame Lynley’s wish; that the award should provide a boost of confidence and financial support to a talented emerging writer, just as the Choysa Bursary had helped her early in her own career.”
Janine was “incredibly happy, that such a huge stroke of good fortune should have come my way” when she learned she was selected as the inaugural Lynley Dodd Children’s Writers Award recipient. She adds, “It will be life-changing as it will enable me to write full-time. I can also enrol in courses or pay for coaching that I would otherwise never be able to afford. And such a wonderful endorsement by the legendary Dame Lynley Dodd will be a huge boost to my credibility as a writer.”
The Lynley Dodd Children’s Writers Award is made possible by the huge act of generosity from Aotearoa New Zealand’s literary great Dame Lynley Dodd DNZM. It is inspired by a pivotal moment in Lynley’s career when a financial gift transformed her path, enabling her to continue writing and ultimately becoming a celebrated writer and illustrator.
The Lynley Dodd Children’s Writers Award is intended for authors who have established their identity in the field of children’s literature, showcasing richness, range, and depth in their work. Eligible recipients should have published two or three books, whether they are picture books, junior novels, or young adult novels, and should exemplify the strength and quality of children’s literature in Aotearoa New Zealand. The $30,000 award is designed to support their practice and ensure their work continues.
The Lynley Dodd Children’s Writers Award is presented every two years, alternating with the Mallinson Rendel Illustrators Award, which recognises children’s illustrators. Both awards are selected by independent panels and are not open for application.
