Signals 2018 – Supporting emerging young NZ writers

The Michael King Writers Centre launched the seventh issue of Signals, its literary journal for young writers, on Saturday 8 December at the National Library in Parnell.

The journal features the work of senior secondary students who took part in this year’s Young Writers Programme, as well as its alumni. The editors received over 140 submissions.

This year, as in 2017, we are very grateful to have received the support of Penguin Random House.

Winners of the $150 Chris Cole Catley Prizes for the year, judged by Tracey Slaughter, were programme alumnae Gina Holden and Sophie van Waardenberg. Full results are as follows:Prose:   First – Gina Holden

Second – Anuja Mitra

Highly Commended – Lucy Elisara

Poetry:

First –   Sophie van Waardenberg

Second – Rachel Meado

Highly Commended – Pritha Marks

The Massey University Press Prize for an Outstanding Submission, donated by Nicola Leggatt and chosen by the editors, was awarded to Theresa Stanton Boyd, for her poem ‘MEDSCI 142’

The 2018 Programme attracted 143 senior students, representing schools from all over Auckland.

Leading writers contributed to workshops and master classes in collaboration with tutors Ros Ali and Jo Emeney. Guest-writers included Nicky Hager, Fiona Samuel, Simon Wilson, Adam Dudding, Jenny Bornholdt, Nicola Leggat, Tracey Slaughter and Bianca Zander.

Copies of Signals will be distributed to Auckland secondary schools. The journal will be available from the Michael King Writers Centre and selected bookshops.

The Young Writers Programme thanks Creative New Zealand, Joyce Fisher Charitable Trust and Penguin Random House for their support.