2019 Sargeson Prize

L-R: Xiaole Zhan, Elizabeth Morton, Elijah Neilson-Edwards, Pro Vice-Chancellor Allison Kirkman, Ariana Happy, Catherine Chidgey, me, Sam Keenan, Robert Hurley, Amberlea Gordon, Hamish Ansley. Photo: The University of Waikato.

I've just returned from a whirlwind trip to Hamilton! My short story The Nor'Wester was highly commended for the 2019 Sargeson Prize. I thought going up for the prize-giving might be a bit over-the-top ... until my husband pointed out that I could consider myself in the 2019 'All Blacks of short story writing' squad. Well, that justified a trip to The Tron!

I also thought it would be a great opportunity to meet other writers - and it was. I had a wonderful time meeting writers from both the open and the secondary schools divisions. I also got to meet literary genius Catherine Chidgey who was so lovely and kind to us all. 

The prize-giving was held after the Frank Sargeson Memorial Lecture. Dylan Horrocks gave an amusing and inspirational lecture about the history of comics in Aotearoa, and treated us to a slide-show packed with glorious images. 

A huge thank you to Catherine Chidgey, the University of Waikato and everyone who administered the competition (and read the 800 entries!). And of course massive congratulations to the winners - I'm looking forward to reading your stories in the upcoming editions of Landfall and Mayhem. Also, a shout-out to the University of Waikato librarians who helped us out with some emergency life admin. Librarians rock! 

Doing the Time Warp in Hamilton.