NZSA / Hachette Mentor program recipients announced
The New Zealand Society of Authors (PEN NZ Inc) and Hachette Australia and New Zealand are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2016 NZSA / Hachette Mentor Program.
Originally only one writer was to get the opportunity to work on a new draft of their completed manuscript under the joint mentorship of Hachette Australia and New Zealand but Hachette selectors had a tough job choosing from the 55 applications. Six manuscripts, authored by Kathryn van Beek, Anne Harre, Brandy Scott, Eileen Merriman, Karen Zelas and Caroline Barron, were shortlisted. When it came to the crunch Hachette decided to extend the mentorship to two of the shortlisted authors.
Congratulations to Brandy Scott and Anne Harre who will each be mentored during 2016, receiving constructive critiquing of their manuscript as part of the Hachette mentorship. The selected manuscripts may be considered by Hachette for publication within 6 months of delivery of a new draft of the manuscript.
Hachette publisher Sophie Hamley commented that “Both of them wrote stories I just wanted to keep reading; their writing is mature and they are clearly unafraid to do more work.”
Of the 55 applications received Hachette noted that several authors amongst the submissions are previously published or otherwise have very good writing credits, which was unexpected. A small number of authors who have not been selected for the mentor program will be asked to send in their full manuscript for consideration for publication in Australia and New Zealand.
Jackie Dennis, Chief Executive of the NZ Society of Authors is delighted with the result. “This mentorship will help Brandy and Anne with their next draft and move them closer to publication. It has also exposed more of our writers to Hachette and potentially to publication by Hachette Australia and New Zealand.”
This program is proudly presented by Hachette Australia and New Zealand in partnership with The New Zealand Society of Authors (PEN NZ Inc.)
NZSA / Hachette Mentor Programme recipients
Brandy Scott
Brandy Scott is a journalist who has spent the majority of her career based in the Middle East. She returned to New Zealand two years ago to do the Creative Writing MA at Victoria University’s International Institute of Modern Letters. Brandy is currently writer-in-residence at the New Zealand Pacific Studio in the Wairarapa.
Anne Harre
Anne Harré has a BA from the University of Canterbury in Music, American Literature, History & Politics. In 2015 she completed the Advanced Diploma in Creative Writing (Novel) through Whiteria Polytechnic. She has also successfully completed several undergraduate papers from Victoria University’s International Institute of Modern Letters.
Though slightly convoluted her work history has included stints as a music teacher, a book seller, time with The New Zealand Book Council, Trustee of The Randell Cottage Writers Trust, and freelance editing and reviewing. She currently lives in Wellington and works as a school librarian.
Her poetry has been published in Jaam, The New Zealand Poetry Society Anthology, The NZ Listener, and non-fiction and reviews in The Christchurch Press and the DominionPost. As well as design and layout, she has been a past editor for the NZPS anthology.
