Budding young authors commended in regional short story competition

The region's promising young authors have been recognised as part of the New Zealand Post Book Awards' Waikato and King Country Short Story Competition.

Coordinated by Hamilton City Libraries and run in conjunction with all libraries throughout the Waikato and King Country region, the awards attracted over 200 entries from budding local authors aged 5-18 years old.

Judged by the New Zealand Post Book Awards' regional coordinating team, the winning entries were announced on Monday and are currently posted on the Hamilton City Libraries' website, www.hamiltonlibraries.co.nz.

New Zealand Post Book Awards' regional coordinator Dawn Carlisle said it was the second year that the Waikato and King Country Short Story Competition had been held, with the judging panel impressed by the high standard of entries received.

"We found the quality of the entries this year was amazing – the kids really let their imaginations go and the results just blew us away," she said.

"We were impressed and acknowledge the generosity of New Zealand Post, Harper Collins Publishing New Zealand and Total Library Solutions who all provided prizes for this competition … It is great to have their support to be able to recognise and nurture our budding young authors."

With themes taken from two books that were finalists in this year's NZ Post Book Awards, 'The Crafting of Narnia' and 'Juno of Taris', the 5-8 year old and 9-12 year old categories were asked to write about 'visiting an imaginary world', while the '12-18 year old' age group was required to base their stories on 'a utopian society'.

Carol Bond, who was one of the judges of the short story competition, said the quality and quantity of entries made the deliberations difficult.

"We spent over two hours debating the merits of each story but in the end I believe we highlighted the ones that truly deserved recognition," she said.

The winners are:

5-8 year olds
1ST: 'Kiwi on the Moon' by Jay Piper-Healion (8) from Mercury Bay.
2ND: 'Mr Nightmare' by Lindsey Houston (8) from Otorohanga.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED:
'Mrs Chubba Chup saves Lollyland' by Chance McKay (8) from Hamilton.

9-12 year olds
1ST: 'An Unremembered Tune' by Christina Wilson (12) from Hamilton.
2ND: 'Moonlight' by Grier Gardyne (9) from Tamahere.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED:
'Ishkindri of Grundihileeleelala' by Bethany Swanson (11) from Hamilton;
'The Truth Behind Mona Lisa's Smile' by Celine Kao (12) from Hamilton;
'Sweet Dreams' by Meg Tatton-Brown (12) from Mercury Bay

13-18 year olds
1ST: 'Then and Now'by Kejia Wang (17) from Hamilton
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED:
'Light of Perfection' by Yvette Willemse (16) from Hamilton.

Winners are currently being contacted and prizes will be sent out in the next few days.