Monday, October 03, 2011

Entries sought in search for New Zealand’s Best Books


                 







Entries open today for the nation’s most prestigious book awards: the New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards and the New Zealand Post Book Awards 2012.
More than 2,000 entries are expected, from emerging and experienced authors across the country, but just a few will make it to the final shortlist.
Together the two awards reflect the diversity, depth, colour and flair of contemporary New Zealand writing.
Both awards have New Zealand Post as their principal sponsor. Brian Roche, the chief executive of Post, says 2011 is a milestone year for that sponsorship; “For fifteen years we’ve been proud to support the Children’s Book Awards,  and this will also be the third year we’ve sponsored the adult book awards. 
“New Zealand authors offer readers rich and exciting worlds to explore, and we’re pleased to encourage their endeavours.
”These awards encourage readers and writers alike, and recognise the diverse vein of creativity which exists in this country,” Brian Roche said.
Entry Forms and further information can be downloaded from: www.nzpostbookawards.co.nz Entries close:
·       on 28 October 2011 (for books published between 1 January 2011 and 29 October 2011)
·       on 25 November 2011 (for titles published between 30 October 2011 and 31 December 2011)
·        For books that are scheduled to be published after 25 November, an entry must be submitted by 25 November 2011, and copies of the book must be supplied no later than Friday 6 January 2012 to be considered.

Background information:
New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards 2012
Books will be judged in four main categories:
     Picture Book
     Non‐fiction,
     Junior Fiction
     Young Adult Fiction.

In each category 5 finalists will be selected.
Winners will be selected for each category (each of whom will receive $7,500).
An overall winner will then be selected from all finalists to receive the New Zealand Post Children’s Book of the Year award (and an additional $7,500).
Awards will also be given for the Best First Book (selected from finalists who are being published for the first time), and the Children’s Choice Award (selected from the 20 finalists) – each of these recipients winning $2,000.
The finalists will be announced on Tuesday 28 February 2012, and the nationwide festival celebration will take place in the week beginning 7 May 2012.
The winners will be announced at an Awards Ceremony on Wednesday 16 May 2012.

New Zealand Post Book Awards 2012
Books will be judged in four main categories:
     Poetry (Three finalists to be selected) 
     Fiction
(Three finalists to be selected) 
     Illustrated Non‐fiction
(Five finalists to be selected)
     General Non‐fiction
(Five finalists to be selected).

In addition to selecting category winners (who each receive $10,000), judges will also select one Book of the Year (which will receive $15,000).
Books submitted in the four main categories, written by first‐time authors, will also be eligible to win one of the three New Zealand Society of Authors Best First Book Awards (each receiving $2,500) for Poetry, Fiction and Non‐fiction.
Books written entirely in Te Reo, will be judged for the Māori Language Award (and will receive $10,000).
The extremely popular People’s Choice Award is the public’s opportunity to vote for their favourite book from the 16 finalists selected by the judges (with the winner receiving $5,000).
2012. On that day, winners of the Māori Language Award, and of the winners of the NZSA Best First Book Awards for 
Poetry, Fiction and Non‐fiction, will also be announced. 
The finalists will be announced on 6 June

The winners of the four Category Awards, the People’s Choice Award and Book of the Year Award will be announced at a ceremony in July 2012.

Entries – from publishers or authors with self-published works – are open from today. All titles are then checked to ensure they meet the eligibility criteria, and put before the respective judging panels for their consideration.

No comments: