Chalice

The Key

3 August 2011

Top New Zealand Writers in Running for National Literature Award

-Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust Unpublished Manuscript and Book Awards 2011-

A group of New Zealanders with extraordinary literary talent have been shortlisted for the 2011 Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust Literature Awards, with five finalists in the book, and four in the unpublished manuscript category.

The Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust in conjunction with the New Zealand Society of Authors (NZSA), offers one of the largest monetary prizes for literature in the country with two awards of $10,000.

The awards recognise both budding and published writers whose work embodies the mind, body, spirit genre with two separate accolades, the Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust Book Award and the Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust Unpublished Manuscript Award.

The finalists in the book category are John Bluck, for his work entitled “Hidden Country: Having faith in Aotearoa NZ”, Natasha Freeman with “The Story of Q”, Wendy Betteridge for “It’s Your Thoughts That Count”, Anne Powell with “Tree of a Thousand Voices” and Keith Hill with “The God Revolution”.

In the unpublished manuscript category, Michele Powles is a finalist for “The Mind My Father Made”, Alan Dawe with “The God Franchise”, Robyn Speed with “Chalice” and Mary Ballard with “The Snowflake Clouds”.

Maggie Tarver, Chief Executive Officer for the NZSA, says the 2011 awards attracted an impressive response from New Zealand writers.

“The 2011 Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust Literature Awards received a remarkable number of written works, with 31 entries in the published book category, and 57 entries in the unpublished manuscript category,” says Ms Tarver.

“Entries were of a very high standard and each of the shortlisted finalists has produced work of an excellent quality which demonstrates they have a natural aptitude for writing and possess a true understanding of the mind, body, spirit category.”

Judges for the 2011 Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust Literature Awards were publisher, Bob Ross, owner and manager of Pepperleaf Publishing, Gillian Tewsley and founder and owner of Pathfinder Book Shop, Jennifer Eddington.

The Awards will be announced in a ceremony at the Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust’s own venue, the Hopetoun Alpha in Auckland on Friday 19 August 2011.

The Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust will also be hosting an informative Publishing for Authors workshop following the Awards on Saturday 20th August 2011 at the Hopetoun Alpha.

Guest speakers include Steve Messenger of PrintStop, Paula Browning of Copyright Licensing Ltd, Sarah Gumbley, legal publisher and consultant, and Maria Gill, published author.

Registrations for the workshop are open to the general public, and those interested in attending should email Litsa Katsoulis at info@awct.org.nz.

About The Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust

The late Auckland businessman Ashton Wylie was a philanthropist with a wide range of interests particularly in the area of personal development and positive relationships. The Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust was set up at Ashton's request and was named after him.

Ashton Wylie believed that if one wanted to change the world, one had to first change oneself. Changes are then made by example as ultimately, one can change for the better others that reside within one’s sphere of influence.

The Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust was set up following Ashton Wylie’s death in 1999 with the mandate of having human relationships as its focus, and its main intent being to promote more loving relationships.

For further information visit: www.awct.org.nz

The New Zealand Society of Authors

The New Zealand Society of Authors (PEN NZ Inc) is the principal representative for the professional interests of authors in New Zealand. It began as the NZ PEN Centre in 1934 in Wellington. From 1934 onwards the organisation campaigned for a public lending right, and in 1973 the Authors' Fund was established. In 1975 PEN initiated the NZ Writers' Guild to represent writers in their dealings with broadcasting and professional theatres.

The NZSA runs a range of programmes, which encourage emerging writers, and actively represents writers’ interests on a number of fronts with publishers and others.

The Society's major goals are the full representation and support of writers; an ongoing interest in writers being rewarded and recognised for their professional work; the protecting of freedom of expression and cultural diversity celebrated through literature.

ENDS

CHRISTCHURCH AUTHOR REWARDED FOR LITERARY EXCELLENCE

Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust ‘Unpublished Manuscript and Book Awards’

Christchurch author Robyn Speed has won a major literature prize at the annual nationwide Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust Unpublished Manuscript and Book Awards held on Friday 18 August in Auckland.

The Fendalton resident won the $10,000 award in the Unpublished Manuscript category.

The awards, run in association with the New Zealand Society of Authors (NZSA), are in their third year and aim to recognise excellence in writing in the mind, body, spirit genre.

The judges described “The Key”, Ms Speed’s winning unpublished manuscript, as an entertaining and well written manuscript which explores the quest to find a key to unite all people.

The winner of the other major prize, the $10,000 Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust Book Award, was Tauranga-based author Megan Don for her book “Falling into the Arms of God: Meditations with Teresa of Avila.”

Due to the high calibre of entries the judges also made two Merit Awards of $1,000 in the Book Award category. The winners were Wellington authors Linda George and Rosie Bowie for their book “Heart Rules” and Auckland authors Philip and Richard Logan for “Your True Purpose.”

New Zealand Society of Authors Programme Manager, Tina Shaw, says the standard of entries this year proves the mind, body and spirit genre is growing increasingly popular in this country and there is a wealth of writing talent in New Zealand.

"The very generous awards provided by the Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust formally recognise New Zealand authors in this genre, and provides them with the much-needed support and encouragement they require to further their writing careers," says Ms Shaw.

The Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust is the owner of Auckland’s Hopetoun Alpha venue and the legacy of the late Ashton Wylie. The Trust was established in 2001 with the main intent of promoting more loving relationships. The Trust’s Book and Unpublished Manuscript Awards were established in 2004, in association with the New Zealand Society of Authors, to encourage the expansion of the mind, body and spirit literature genre in New Zealand.

 

On Friday 18th August at a cocktail function held at the Hopetoun Alpha, Deputy Mayor Bruce Hucker presented the two Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust Awards for mind, body, spirit writing.

The winner of the $10,000 Book Award was Megan Don of Tauranga with her book Falling into the Arms of God: Meditations with Teresa of Avila. The judges commented that this was a beautifully put together book which takes the reader on a spiritual journey showing how we can become a close and aware of our God as Teresa of Avila was of hers.

There were two merit awards given for the Book Award this year – The first to Philip and Richard Logan for their book Your True Purpose and to Rosie Bowie and Linda George for their book Heart Rules.

The winner of the $10,000 unpublished manuscript award was Robyn Speed of Christchurch with her work titled The Key. The judges commented that the manuscript was an uplifting and informative work which explores the quest to find a key to unite all people and help us understand what we have in common, something that is particularly relevant in these troubled times. Robyn Speed was a finalist in last year’s manuscript awards.

 

Five NZ Authors Rewarded For Literary Excellence

Five New Zealand authors were celebrated at the annual Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust Unpublished Manuscript and Book Awards, held on Friday night in Auckland.

The awards, run in association with the New Zealand Society of Authors (NZSA), are in their second year and aim to recognise excellence in authorship for writing in the mind, body, spirit genre.

Whitianga author Andrew Crowe was presented with the $10,000 Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust Unpublished Manuscript Award by Auckland City Councillor Richard Northey for his work entitled "The Dalai Lama Story".

Co--authors James McNeill and David Bell received the $10,000 Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust Book Award from Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Honourable Margaret Wilson for their book "Spirit of Nature".

Publisher Bob Ross, convenor of judges, says he was impressed with the high quality of entries received in the book awards.

"The Ashton Wylie book awards are unique in their focus upon mind, body and spirit, and judging these awards was certainly a satisfying experience. Above all we were looking for excellence in all aspects of authorship which supports the Trust's mandate of helping people to become more loving, caring and fulfilled. All five award winners certainly fulfilled these requirements."

Andrew Crowe's manuscript "The Dalai Lama Story" was described by judges as a beautifully written, well constructed account of the Dalai Lama's life. The winning published book, "Spirit of Nature", by James McNeill and David Bell was described as a charming work that makes the traditional five Chinese elements relevant and practical today.

As a result of the high quality of books entered in the awards, the Trust introduced three Merit awards across both categories. Christchurch authors Brian Broom ("Meaning--full Disease") and Robyn M Speed ("Dimension's Doorway") received Merit awards for their respective works in the unpublished manuscript category, and Hilary Hudson from Waikanae achieved a Merit award in the published book category for "Earthly Farewell".

Judges for the awards included publisher Bob Ross, New Zealand author Richard Webster, Ashton Wylie trustee Adonia Wylie, and author, editor and manuscript assessor Stephen Stratford.

Liz Allen, Executive Director, New Zealand Society of Authors, says the standard of entries this year proves that while the mind, body and spirit genre is still relatively new in this country, there is a wealth of writing talent in New Zealand.

"The very generous book awards provided by the Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust formally recognises New Zealand authors in this genre, and provides them with the much needed support and encouragement they require to further their writing careers."

Ashton Wylie trustee, Adonia Wylie, says she has been delighted at response to the awards and says Ashton Wylie would be very proud to see the amount of talent in a literature genre that he was passionate about.

"The awards in Ashton's name have successfully proven that this is a growing area of New Zealand literature. The success last year's winners have had with their respective winning books is testament to this, and the Trust is proud to have been a part of their success."

The Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust, owners of Auckland's Hopetoun Alpha venue and the legacy of the late Ashton Wylie, was established in 2001 with the main intent of promoting more loving relationships. The Trust's Book Awards were established, in association with the New Zealand Society of Authors, to encourage the expansion of the mind, body and spirit literature genre in New Zealand.

 

Winner of the $10,000 Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust Book Award

Spirit of Nature: David Bell with James O’Neill, published by Lothian Books. A visually attractive, professionally produced book, very pleasing to browse, read and enjoy. Based on the Chinese Five Element system the authors give an insight into our emotions, our health, relationships and spirituality. They have been able to present visions of the contemporary world as seen through the five element theory.

A merit award of $1000 was presented to Hilary Hudson for her book Earthly Farewell published by Priory Press.

The Dalai Lama Story: Andrew Crowe The judges were unanimous in making this award. Andrew Crowe’s account is very revealing and tells the dramatic story of the Dalai Lama’s life and times including the amazing tale of his escape from Tibet. Andrew has been able to relate the facts of this intriguing life through good readable story telling. The manuscript is also accompanied by a fascinating collection of illustrations.

Two merit awards of $1000 each were presented to Robyn M Speed for her novel manuscript Dimensions Doorway and Brian Broom for his non-fiction manuscript Meaning-Full Disease.