Congratulations Jack Lasenby, Barbara Else, and all!

Those of us who went along had a great time at the NZ Post Children's Book Awards last night. NZ Post and Booksellers NZ know how to throw a party!

We're thrilled that WCBA Patron Jack Lasenby won the Young Adult Fiction award for his book Calling The Gods (HarperCollins).

We are also delighted for WCBA member Barbara Else, who took home an honour award for The Travelling Restaurant (Gecko Press).

Other Wellingtonians who did the region proud last night include Chris Szekely who won the top award in the picture book category for Rahui (published by Huia, with illustrations by Malcolm Ross who passed away some years ago), and Ant Sang who won an honour award for Shaolin Burning (HarperCollins).


It's also wonderful to see the Wellington publishers doing well in the awards - Huia and Gecko.

Congratulations to all winners and finalists, here in Wellington and around the country!

See the Booksellers press release here.

2012 NZ Post Book Awards finalists announced

Congratulations to all finalists, including the strong Wellington contingent.  See the Booksellers NZ website for the full list.

The Wellington Finalists of The New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards 2011

Wellington Children’s Writers Celebrate

The Wellington regional finalists for the 2011 New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards got together this week to celebrate their achievement with Jack Lasenby. This week Jack, a frequent winner, turned 80 and his 30th novel for children The Haystack has been shortlisted in this year's awards.

Celebrating with Jack were first time finalists Juliette MacIver, writer of the picture book Marmaduke Duck and the Marmalade Jam, and James Crampton, one half of the GNS team that produced The Kiwi Fossil Hunter's Handbook.

Also present were frequent finalist Fleur Beale with her Young Adult novel Fierce September, and previous finalist Leon Davidson with Zero Hour: The ANZACS On The Western Front.

The Wellington region is well represented this year with both new and established authors covering a quarter of the total books shortlisted.

The winners of The New Zealand Post Children’s Book awards will be announced at a ceremony in Auckland on May 18, 2011.