Sunday, October 28, 2012

Kawau Island Author receives third American Literary Award


Lin Pardey with her latest latest book, Bull Canyon, a Boatbuilder, a Writer and other Wildlife was one of two finalists for the 2012 WILLA Literary award in creative non-fiction. Presented by Women Writing the West at their national convention in Albuquerque New Mexico, this prestigious award is named for the Pulitzer Prize winning writer, Willa Cather.  In addition, Bull Canyon was one of three finalists in both the non –fiction and also the memoir categories of the 2012 Next Generation Literary Awards presented by the Independent Book Publishers of America.
Lin, from Southern California, sailed to New Zealand with her Canadian husband Larry in 1985 and purchased a small property on Kawau Island. In her words, “it was the ultimate fixer upper.”  Three years later they both became New Zealand citizens. Though they often were away for extended periods as they voyaged to far corners of the earth, four of her eleven books have been written at the home they created on this small island just 30 miles north of Auckland.
Bull Canyon tells of the four years Lin spent living and writing in an isolated canyon in the mountains south of Los Angeles before sailing to New Zealand. “I would never have finished Bull Canyon without the encouragement of the Kawau Island Bookworms. The whole group read the earliest drafts and made suggestions that helped me clarify my thinking as I worked to create a highly readable story to show how two people, working together, can move mountains (or at least hills).” That Lin succeeded is shown by warm reviews and now three awards. Publisher’s Weekly stated, “their accomplishment is significant, highly Romantic, and admirable. With many homespun snapshots included, readers may feel as if they're following the fantastic adventures of an old friend.”

Bull Canyon is distributed in New Zealand by:
Boat Books Limited
22 Westhaven Drive, Auckland City, New Zealand
Email - crew@boatbooks.co.nz

Photo below – Lin Pardey receiving her award at Women Writing the West Convention


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