New writers hold own against old hands

A sprinkling of new authors and some acknowledged heavy-hitters such as C. K. Stead are among finalists for the country's top literary competition, the Montana New Zealand Book Awards.

Stead, an award-winning author, earned two spots on the shortlist - something he was quick to downplay yesterday.

"Literary awards are a bit of a lottery. If your book doesn't win, it's not one scrap worse than if it had," he said.

"And if it does win, it's not one scrap better. You have to develop a sort of detachment."

The competition divides finalists into eight categories: fiction, poetry, biography, history, Reference and Anthology, Lifestyle and Contemporary Culture, Environment and Illustrative.

Winners in each category then face off for the top honours: the Deutz Medal for Fiction or Poetry and the Montana Medal for Non-Fiction.

Stead's Mansfield competes against four titles in the fiction category, including Nigel Cox's Tarzan Presley. Cox's book gained notoriety when sales were limited to New Zealand after claims that he had infringed on the copyright of Tarzan.

Stead's poetry volume The Red Tram faces two rivals in the category, including Vincent O'Sullivan's Nice morning for it.

In 1999, O'Sullivan also had two titles shortlisted. He won the poetry prize and his novel Believers to the Bright Coast was runner-up for the Deutz Medal.

Entries from authors with fewer credentials include Ghost Dance by Douglas Wright, renowned dancer and choreographer making his literary debut. Likewise, Lifestyle and Contemporary Culture finalist Hip Hop Music in Aotearoa is Gareth Shute's first non-fiction book.

"[The new authors] have been up against very experienced writers, and they've come through," said judging convenor Graham Beattie.

Judges have spent four months reading about 200 books as they narrowed the list.

"It became a full-time job," Mr Beattie said. "I became a social recluse."

He is now re-reading all of the titles on the shortlist and preparing to negotiate with two other judges to determine the eight category winners, as well as the winners of the Deutz and Montana Medals.

The poetry winner will be announced on July 22 and the other winners will be honoured at an awards ceremony in Wellington's Old Town Hall on July 25.

Best books

* Each year readers select their favourite work from the finalists selected for the Montana New Zealand Book Awards.
* To vote, visit www.booksellers.co.nz

THE FINALISTS ARE

* Deutz medal for fiction or poetry

Fiction

Book Book by Fiona Farrell
Mansfield by C.K. Stead
Tarzan Presley by Nigel Cox
Tu by Patricia Grace.
What Happen Then, Mr Bones? by Charlotte Randall

Poetry

Fool Moon by Murray Edmond
Nice morning for it, Adam by Vincent O'Sullivan
The Red Tram by C.K. Stead Montana medal for non-fiction BIOGRAPHY
Chronicle of the Unsung by Martin Edmond
Ghost Dance by Douglas Wright
Toss Woollaston: A Life in Letters edited by Jill Trevelyan

History

The Anzac Experience: New Zealand, Australia and Empire in the First World War by Christopher Pugsley
At Home: A Century of New Zealand Design by Douglas Lloyd Jenkins
A Carved Cloak for Tahu by Mere Whaanga
Reference and Anthology
The New Zealand Oxford Dictionary edited by Tony Deverson and Graeme Kennedy
Spirit Abroad: A Second Selection of New Zealand Spiritual Verse edited by Paul Morris, Harry Ricketts and Mike Grimshaw
The Wide White Page: Writers Imagine Antarctica edited by Bill Manhire
Lifestyle and contemporary culture
Celebrating New Zealand Wine by Joelle Thomson, photography by Andrew Coffey
Hip Hop Music in Aotearoa by Gareth Shute
Made in Morocco: A Journey of Exotic Tastes and Places by Julie Le Clerc and John Bougen

Environment

Flight of the Huia: Ecology and Conservation of New Zealand's Frogs, Reptiles, Birds and Mammals by Kerry-Jayne Wilson
The Frozen Coast: Sea Kayaking the Antarctic Peninsula by Graham Charles, Mark Jones, Marcus Waters and Sarah Moodie
Tiritiri Matangi: A Model of Conservation by Anne Rimmer

Illustrative

Handboek: Ans Westra Photographs by Luit Bieringa
Icons Nga Taonga: From the Collections of the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa by The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
Michael Smither: Painter by Trish Gribben and Michael Smithe

Reviewer of the year

David Eggleton
Anna Rogers
Tony Simpson

Best review page or programme

The New Zealand Herald's canvas magazine
North & South
New Zealand Books