Chapter 21: YA Fiction Award finalists announced and other exciting stuff

Welcome to the first of my sporadic updates since the last one!

Back in February, before I started studying for my Masters, I imagined writing regular updates on the joys of being a uni student and dedicating a year to fiction. The fact that this is my first blog post since then, and I’m now two weeks into the mid-year break, shows just how much I underestimated the intensity of the course! My thesis – a novel with the working title of Staying Alive – is due on 7 November. I’m not going to count the days between then and now, but I know there are terrifyingly few. Even so, it’s been a lot of fun and I’m grateful for the opportunity to get to know my fellow students and hone my skills.

 And now for the actual news…

 On 1 June, the list of finalists for the 2023 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults was released and I’m thrilled to say that Miracle is in the running for the Young Adult Fiction Award! It’s very exciting to be up there with Kate De Goldi, Eileen Merriman, Philippa Werry and Brian Falkner. Plus, as Miracle wasn’t specifically written for a young audience, this acknowledgement suggests it appeals to older and younger readers alike. The accompanying promotion will also help give Miracle a new lease on life.

 Also on 1 June (it was a big day!), the Ngaio Marsh Awards library series continued with Capital Crimes – Karori Mystery in the Library. Charity Norman chaired a fun evening with Helen Vivienne Fletcher, Alistair Luke, me, and a lively audience. Special thanks to designer Janine Murray for having the foresight to create a book cover that complements the library’s wall!

Coming up in July, I’ll be appearing at Ōtaki, Paekākāriki and Paraparaumu libraries. When I know more, I’ll post details on Facebook and Instagram. In the meantime, you can find me frantically writing here…

If you haven’t read Miracle yet, it’s available from good NZ bookshops and via Amazon. Reviews on Goodreads and Amazon are gratefully received (yes, that’s a hint!).