Airini Beautrais speaks during the reception at the Davis Lecture Theatre last week. Photo / Supplied
Airini Beautrais speaks during the reception at the Davis Lecture Theatre last week. Photo / Supplied
Interest in Bug Week & Other Stories, the collection of short stories by Whanganui author Airini Beautrais, has increased in the city since it won a major award.
Bug Week & Other Stories, published in September last year, won the Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction a fortnight ago.
RochelleHandley, of Paige's Book Gallery, said Bug Week had been selling well ever since Beautrais was short-listed for the award in March.
"It was ticking over, as was her last book, Flow: Whanganui River Poems," Handley said.
"There were 25 copies in store when it got announced that she'd won. They pretty much went straight away.
"Airini's win might also lead to a resurgence in people reading more short stories.
"I always say it was Hera Lindsay Bird that put poetry back on New Zealanders' bookshelves. Then Airini put out Flow and it turns up the heat a little bit. People start thinking 'oh that's right, poetry'.
"It wouldn't surprise me if people rediscover the joy of short stories, especially those with busy lives.
"They can dive in and be satisfied in a small amount of time."
Postie Plus in Trafalgar Square said they had sold out of copies of the book, with more expected to arrive this week.
Bug Week was published in September last year. Photo / File
Nicola Patrick, who organised a reception for Beautrais last Saturday, said the $57,000 prize money would give Beautrais the time to craft her next book.
"That's the beauty of the prize, because a lot of our creative people aren't in it for the awards or the recognition. They are in it to give voice to important ideas.
"To get an award that gives you time through money is perfect."
Patrick said there were only two copies of Bug Week available locally for sale by the time Saturday's event took place.
"We had about 80 people along, and it had a wonderful atmosphere."
Whanganui libraries manager Pete Gray said they currently had five copies of Bug Week, with another two on order.
"Interest in this title has lifted, but it was already in circulation prior to the prize," Gray said.
"It has been requested 10 times since it won, and seven of those requests are current."
Gray said all Beautrais' other published works were currently on loan.
Handley said she had noticed people moving "back to reading and a love of books".
"I think it's because people are tired of being on a screen all day at work. I've even had a few teenagers say to me 'I've got an e-reader but I want to go back to reading books'.
"There are new book shops opening, and the demand is out there.
"If you talk to any of the publishing houses or the book reps, they've just had a wonderful past year."
