The Acorn Foundation chief executive Nicky Wilkins. Finalists announced for $50,000 Acorn Foundation Fiction Prize as part of 2017 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards.
Finalists have been announced for $50,000 Acorn Foundation Fiction Prize as part of 2017 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards.
The prize, now in its second year as New Zealand's richest fiction writing prize, is awarded through the generosity of one of the Acorn Foundation's donors will be awarded for the best adult fiction, in perpetuity.
Acorn Foundation General Manager Nicky Wilkins said the donor set up the fund as a result of their passion for literature and to support the development of writers in New Zealand.
"Our generous donor passionately believes that great literature not only entertains but nourishes both the intellect and the imagination, and that these attributes are amply demonstrated in the best of New Zealand writing, but unfortunately have been poorly rewarded in the past."
Four of the country's most respected novelists are in the running for New Zealand's richest fiction writing prize with today's announcement of the 2017 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards shortlist.
Commonwealth Prize-winning novelist Catherine Chidgey's The Wish Child is one of the contenders for the $50,000 Acorn Foundation Fiction Prize, as are multi-award winning writer Owen Marshall's Love as a Stranger, critic, poet and novelist C.K. Stead's The Name on the Door is Not Mine, and critically acclaimed poet and novelist Emma Neale's Billy Bird.
The Acorn Foundation Fiction Prize judges' convenor, Bronwyn Wylie-Gibb, says all four finalists demonstrate compelling writing, surprising plots, sudden poignancies, sharp humour and beautifully observed characters.
"These are the books that we loved, that provoked, that excited us, and that we are still thinking about."
For the first time in the history of the New Zealand Book Awards, an international judge will assist in selecting the winner of the fiction category. Distinguished Canadian writer Madeleine Thien will be the first to assume this role. New Zealand Book Awards Trust chair, Nicola Legat, says this country's writers have long wished for an international view of their books, and having an international judge will now be a permanent feature of this award.
Ms Wilkins said it was a privilege for Acorn to be a part of this national initiative that nurtured, supported and celebrated our writers.
"New Zealanders are avid readers, and have a huge appetite for good fiction. We have some exceptional writers in this country, but for some reason we don't recognise that - only 5 per cent of books read in New Zealand are by local authors. Thanks to the generosity of one of our donors this award helps to change that."
The Acorn Foundation Fiction Prize now stands proudly alongside other top international literary awards including Australia's Miles Franklin award ($60,000) and the Man Booker prize (£50,000).
The 2017 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards finalist titles are:
ACORN FOUNDATION FICTION PRIZE •The Wish Child by Catherine Chidgey (Victoria University Press) •Love as a Stranger by Owen Marshall (Vintage, Penguin Random House) •Billy Bird by Emma Neale (Vintage, Penguin Random House) •The Name on the Door is Not Mine by C.K. Stead (Allen & Unwin) POETRY •Fale Aitu | Spirit House by Tusiata Avia (Victoria University Press) •Hera Lindsay Bird by Hera Lindsay Bird (Victoria University Press) •Fits & Starts by Andrew Johnston (Victoria University Press) •This Paper Boat by Gregory Kan (Auckland University Press)
ILLUSTRATED NON-FICTION •A History of New Zealand Women by Barbara Brookes (Bridget Williams Books) •New Zealand Wine: The Land, the Vines, the People by Warren Moran (Auckland University Press) •Ann Shelton: Dark Matter, edited by Zara Stanhope and managing editor Clare McIntosh (Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tamaki) •Bloomsbury South: The Arts in Christchurch 1933-1953 by Peter Simpson (Auckland University Press)
ROYAL SOCIETY TE APARANGI AWARD FOR GENERAL NON-FICTION •This Model World: Travels to the Edge of Contemporary Art by Anthony Byrt (Auckland University Press) •My Father's Island by Adam Dudding (Victoria University Press) •The Big Smoke: New Zealand Cities, 1840-1920 by Ben Schrader (Bridget Williams Books) •Can You Tolerate This? By Ashleigh Young (Victoria University Press)
The winners (including of the four Best First Book awards) will be announced at a ceremony in the Aotea Centre on Tuesday May 16, 2017, held as the first public event of the Auckland Writers Festival.
The awards ceremony is open to the public. Tickets to the event can be purchased via Ticketmaster once festival bookings open on Friday, March 17.
The Ockham New Zealand Book Awards are supported by Ockham Residential, Creative New Zealand, the Acorn Foundation, Book Tokens (NZ) Ltd and the Royal Society of New Zealand Te Aparangi.