What next for NZ success stories...

The All Whites have impressed beyond all expectation.

The All Blacks annihilated Wales on the rugby field.

What’s next? The very real possibility that a New Zealand writer could be amongst 25 in the third round of the international Next Top Spiritual Author competition.

Award winning New Zealand writer, Robyn M. Speed, entered this competition with her manuscript Dimension’s Doorway.

Dimension’s Doorway was a Merit Award winner in Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust Unpublished manuscript Award 2005. The following year Speed won the Award with another manuscript, The Key¸ which has been submitted to a publisher in America.

Speed said, “Over 3000 people entered this Next Top Spiritual Author competition. Of those only 2800 uploaded their book pitches. From that group the top 10%, who achieved the highest score, from public voter support and peer review, proceeded to Round 2. That was 271 people.”

In Round 2 writers have submitted a book proposal and a chapter of their manuscript. These will be scored in three areas:
     1)   Judging panel (50% of the score)
     2)   Publisher’s vote
     3)   Public vote

Writers must score well in all three areas, and only the top 25 will proceed to Round 3. In Round 3 writers will submit two more chapters of their manuscripts, and the field will be narrowed to 4 writers, from which one will be chosen.

The winner of this global competition will be offered a publishing contract by Hampton Roads Publishing company, renowned publishers in the area of metaphysical new age thought.

What are Speed’s chances? She says “I have been interviewed on radio, several times. The Christchurch Mail ran an article about my quest to win! Dawn Foster, in Hamilton, dedicated her fortnightly column to encouraging readers to support me. The New Zealand Society of Authors were kind enough to run a message about my participation in their weekly email to members. My martial arts club, NZ Wing Chun, is right behind me too. And I have the support of people from around the world. So…what are my chances? Pretty damn good! However, I will not stop pushing for support and votes until Round 2 closes, as this could be a very close race.”

If you want to take a look at Speed’s Chapter One, and her book proposal, go to this link: www.nexttopauthor.com/?aid=566 Speed requests “If you see merit in my work, please vote. I can’t do this alone.” Round 2 closes 28th June.

Whilst Speed does not know where every vote is coming from, she confirms she has received emails from voters in New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, U.S.A., U.K., Scotland, Singapore, Korea, and Romania. "There is a widespread intereset in what I am offering ... and that is why I am pushing so hard to get the support to get to Round 3."

The chances that a New Zealand writer will be one of 25 in Round 3 of this international competition, are, in Speed’s words “pretty damn good!”

The chances that a New Zealand writer could win this competition? Pretty damn good!