NZSA manuscript assessment recipients announced

The New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi O Aotearoa (NZSA) has announced the writers who will receive manuscript guidance through this year’s CompleteMS program.

The recipients are (pictured left to right, top row first):

Richard Jakob-Hoff (Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland), Lesley Shepherd (Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland), Lisa Slavich (Whangarei), Athena Knight (Raukawa Ashhurst), Jane Simpson (Ōtautahi Christchurch), Alwyn Dale (Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland), Amelia Reynolds (Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland), Erica Stretton (Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland),  Laura Hardcastle (Porirua), Marlon Moala-Knox (Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington), Penelope Scott (Mt Maunganui), Olivia Bing (Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland) and Peter Aylward (Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai Lower Hutt).

The program received 108 advanced and completed manuscripts submissions.

Judging panel convenor Tina Shaw said, “The panel read a wide range of applications that covered most genres, and fiction (especially fantasy or speculative fiction) was well represented. It was brilliant to see such a range of genres – horror fiction, commercial fiction, historical fiction, sci-fi and crime thrillers. There were also a small number of poetry applications, and memoir projects. There were several young adult projects, and a few aimed at middle-grade fiction.”

The program has the aim of “fostering and developing emerging talent with the support of established practitioners”.

More information is available on the website.

Category: Awards Local news