89 books vie for awards

Press, 24 July 1986, Page 8

89 books vie for awards

This year’s prestigious Wattie Awards for books have attracted 89 entries from 33 publishers, and judges will announce their short list on August 22. Prize-money of $15,000 for the three winners has been given by Wattie Industries. The annual awards scheme, which started in 1968, is run in association with the Book Publishers’ Association of New Zealand.

Twelve adult novels, five books of poetry and short stories and 12 works of children’s fiction are among this year’s entries.

Books are judged on writing quality and illustrations, editing, design and production, and impact on the community. Ten previous winners have submitted books again this year, and five

authors have more than one entry. The largest growth is in children’s fiction, a category which had only four entries last year.

Last year’s winning book was “The Envoy from Mirror City,” the third volume of Janet Frame’s autobiography. Sonja Davies won the second prize for “Bread and Roses.” Margaret Orbell made it a triple win for women writers with “The Natural World of the Maori,” in third place. Janet Frame has won four Wattie prizes, and Maurice Shadbolt, three. Five New Zealand authors have won twice.

This year’s prizes are $9OOO for first place, $4OOO for second, and $2OOO for third.

Winners will be announced on September 30.