Imaginative stories propel students into print

20 July 2012

Imaginative stories propel students into print

Seagulls, a kidney transplant, brussel sprouts and a life-saving dog…

All of these feature in the wildly imaginative stories that have won the hearts and minds of judges in the fifth annual Barfoot & Thompson Young Authors Challenge.

Seven short stories have been selected as the winners out of more than 340 entries authored by children aged five to 12 years from across Auckland and Northland. These stories will be published into a book by real estate company Barfoot & Thompson and sold, with all proceeds benefiting the Starship Foundation.

Supreme winner Gulls’ Bay by 10-year-old Holly Fisher from Remuera Primary will feature on the cover of the book and be accompanied by six other tales, including:
• Bayfield Primary School, Gifted and Talented Writers Group – Rangi and Sephira
• Northcross Intermediate, Emelie Fitness – An Unnamed Friend
• Northern Health School in Ronald McDonald House Auckland – Daily Miracles at RMH
• Pukekohe Intermediate, Room 43 – Rumour Has It
• Somerville Intermediate, Room 19 – Don’t Eat the Bacon
• Don Buck School, Isabelle Cooper – Slow Joe and Fast Freddy

Peter Thompson, Managing Director of Barfoot & Thompson – the company that fully funds the programme – says the winning students can be extremely proud of their achievement.

"This year’s judging was particularly tough. We received twice as many entries than ever before and the standard of writing was extremely high.

“It’s really exciting to see the students’ creativity and skill, and their growing love for reading and writing is evident in the work they produce.”

Now in its fifth year, the writing challenge has enabled hundreds of students the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have their own literary works professionally published.

This year’s winning students can now look forward to their own Author Workshop, run by renowned New Zealand children’s author John Parker, where they’ll polish their stories for publication.

Their tales will then be brought to life in illustrations by rugby great and amateur artist Keven Mealamu before the book runs hot off the press in October.

The past four story books have helped Barfoot & Thompson raise a combined $105,000 for Starship Foundation. Through the Barfoot & Thompson Magic of Reading programme, copies of the book are also provided to Starship Children’s Hospital and Whangarei Hospital’s Children’s Ward and given to young patients that stay overnight to read and take home.

Barfoot & Thompson knows Auckland best. It is the city’s leading real estate company, selling around one in three Auckland residential homes, significantly ahead of all other competitor brands.

The Young Authors Challenge is part of the Barfoot & Thompson Magic of Reading programme, which is fully funded by the company. It sees thousands raised for the Starship Foundation and 15,000 books put in the hands of young patients each year.

Keven Mealamu is Barfoot & Thompson’s Sponsorship Ambassador. As well as being a talented rugby player, Keven is also a keen amateur artist.

John Parker is one of New Zealand’s best known authors, having written nearly 130 books for children ranging from picture-books to novels for teens.

For further information visit www.barfoot.co.nz

ENDS

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