NZSA/Pindar Publishing Prize takes off with storm

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday 1 April 2010

NZSA/Pindar Publishing Prize takes off with a storm

The inaugural NZSA/Pindar Publishing prize, which closed for entries on Tuesday, received an astonishing 508 applications!

Tina Shaw, Programme Manager who administers the prize commented “It’s been wonderful to see entries from all over the country and from New Zealanders living overseas as far afield as Dublin, Dubai and Mexico. We had to call in extra help to process the applications to get them out to the judges who have an enormous task ahead of them.”

Tony Simpson, President of the Society of Authors, remarked “The number of entries is amazing and obviously identifies a need for alternative publishing options in New Zealand. We are delighted to have been able to instigate such a prize and hope that we will be able to offer it again in the future.”

All applications have been numbered and sent anonymously to ensure a fair and equitable judging process. From the 508 applications, the judges will select just 5 shortlisted projects. “There’s going to be a lot of disappointed authors out there, but unfortunately there can only be one winner,” Tony Simpson added.

The 5 shortlisted authors will be contacted and manuscripts called in for the final judging. Writing samples will be placed on www.authors.org.nz and open for the public to have their say. Voting starts 1 May and closes 31 May. The lucky winner will be announced 15 June 2010.

The winning author will have their manuscript published and available for sale through Whitcoulls. The prize is offered by the New Zealand Society of Authors (PEN NZ Inc.) in association with Pindar, Whitcoulls, The NZ Herald and Astra Print and with support from Creative New Zealand.

ENDS

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