| NZ Forest Native Birds |
Silvranja of the Silver Forestreached the short list of four in the 1998 Tom Fitzgibbon Memorial Award, usually referred to these days as just the Tom Fitzgibbon Award. This award, whose prize consists of publication of the winning story and $1,500 cash, was set up in honour of the late Tom Fitzgibbon in 1993, when no award was granted, as was also the case the following year. I have no idea why the Children’s Literature Foundation claim it was set up in 1995. The award is for a children’s novel by an unpublished writer which is not only publishable but also (at least in the opinion of the panel of judges) “WORTHY OF A MAJOR PRIZE”. The award is administered by the Children’s Literature Foundation of NZ and sponsored by Scholastic New Zealand. |
Here is the letter I received |
Only writers who are New Zealand residents may enter this award. The manuscript must not be a picture book and must be at least 10,000 words. If you are a children’s writer you are not eligible if you already have a published children’s book or have a manuscript “under consideration” by a publisher, whatever that may mean. I personally think any writer even vaguely capable of winning an award like this will have more than one manuscript submitted to publishers. However (unless they have changed the rules) you may have any number of books for adults published. There is no entry fee, but four copies of the manuscript are required and your name must not appear on it. You will be given a number and this is what should appear on the manuscript instead of your name. Otherwise normal manuscript presentation applies. Entry forms and instructions may be obtained from
Tom Fitzgibbon Entry
Children’s Literature Foundation of NZ Inc
P O Box 96 094
Balmoral
AucklandPhone/fax 09-627 9137. Email childlitnz@internet.co.nz
The closing date is 31 October each year.