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5 days ago
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Susanna Elliffe Is Winner Of The 2025 NZSA Laura Solomon Cuba Press Prize!
The New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi O Aotearoa (PEN NZ Inc) congratulates Susanna Elliffe on winning the 2025 NZSA Laura Solomon Cuba Press Prize with her manuscript Relic Party. The prize was created by the NZSA and the Solomon family to fulfil the wishes of Laura Solomon, a novelist, poet and playwright who was a longstanding member of the NZSA and a beloved member of the Solomon family. It awards new writing of ' unique and original vision ' with a cash prize of $2,000 and a publishing contract with The Cuba Press. Publication will be in 2026. The winning manuscript, Relic Party, is a short story collection that studies loss, both intimate and global, human and nonhuman, ranging through ugly ghosts, false relics, and desperate pilgrimages, to a dysfunctional 80's farmhouse and the speculative worlds of climate affected futures. We also congratulate Belinda O'Keefe who is the runner-up, winning a cash prize of $1,000 with her manuscript Trespassers Will Be Baked, Scrambled, Fried and Eaten. Susanna Elliffe's manuscript was selected by a final judging panel of Mary McCallum (The Cuba Press), Nicky Solomon (Solomon Family) and panel convenor and award-winning writer Cassie Hart. Cassie Hart, convenor of the judges, says: 'The quality of entries this year was amazing - choosing the finalists was not an easy task, and then selecting just one winner? A huge challenge. I so appreciate the writers of New Zealand for not making this easy! 'The final four were all so different from each other, spanning from a very lyrical collection of short stories to a humorous contemporary novel, a middle grade adventure, through to a memoiresque non-fiction book exploring the experience of immigrants! There is almost no way to compare the four, as they are each such a success in their own right. The winner, Relic Party, stood out as being the most unique and original of the three though, and I know that readers will fall in love with Susannah Elliffe's prose and storytelling just like we did.' Nicky Solomon says: 'It is so wonderful to see interest in the prize continue to grow, as we mark its fifth year. We are extremely grateful to the NZSA and The Cuba Press for taking Laura's idea and turning it into a true legacy. She would be absolutely delighted by the calibre of the work and I know that she would echo me in congratulating all of the finalists, and in fact all of the entrants. The judges are continually challenged, in a good way, by such high quality writing in such a diverse range of genres, and our family extends its heartfelt congratulations to Susanna and Belinda.' The Cuba Press director Mary McCallum says her team is delighted to be publishing another NZSA Laura Solomon Cuba Press Prize winner. 'It's like Christmas when the shortlisted authors for the prize come through for us to read,' she says. 'We have no idea what to expect. They are all very good and rock the unique and original vision that characterised Laura's own work.' Mary says Susanna Elliffe is a writer who creates vivid and beguiling worlds in her short fiction that spark with energy and take readers in unexpected directions. Susanna Elliffe has this to say about her win: 'Winning the Laura Solomon Cuba Press Prize is momentous for me. Creative writing has long been the lifeblood that runs beneath everything I do, my life's passion. I love to play with language, to unstitch it, pull at the seams, weave it anew, to create something that doesn't always fit traditional publishing moulds. So to have my work recognized in this way feels nothing short of surreal. I am deeply honoured - especially to receive a prize connected to Laura Solomon. Her short stories were also surreal and strange, but also dwelled in uncanny corners of the human heart. I am grateful, moved, and more inspired than ever to keep pushing language and narrative to its edges.' Susanna Elliffe is an experimental writer whose short fiction has been shortlisted for competitions including The Sunday Star Times, the Sargeson Prize, and the International Bridport Prize. Susanna is currently completing a Master's in Creative Writing at Massey University, where her work focuses on defamiliarisation and linguistic deviation in fiction. She lives in Oamaru with her sisters and cats, and spends her spare time when not writing, on the stage with Musical Theatre Oamaru. Congratulations to runner-up Belinda O'Keefe, with her manuscript Trespassers Will Be Baked, Scrambled, Fried and Eaten! A discretionary prize of $1,000 has been offered by the Solomon family to both winner Susanna Elliffe and runner-up Belinda O'Keefe. Congratulations also to shortlisted writers Ann Beaglehole (How to be an alien: A memoir of sorts), and Frances Duncan and Raewyn Hewitt (Call It Hope).
Scoop
11-07-2025
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New Work By Talented Writers Win NZSA Manuscript Assessments
Press Release – NZ Society of Authors The New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi O Aotearoa (PEN NZ) Inc announce the writers who will receive manuscript guidance through this year's CompleteMS programme. Powerful manuscripts crafted by these accomplished writers, have been chosen to be part of this year's programme. Writers spend months polishing their stories for entry into this competitive and successful programme (open to NZSA members). The thirteen successful writers receive a detailed assessment of their manuscript from one of Aotearoa / New Zealand's leading writers and approved assessors, followed by a Q+A session with follow-up support. Our congratulations to the NZSA CompleteMS 2025 recipients: Anna Zam (Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland), Annabel Wilson (Swannanoa), Lisa Slavich (Whangārei), Barbara Scrivens (Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland), Tōrea Scott-Fyfe (Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington), Sarah Pratt (Ōtautahi Christchurch), Gráinne Patterson (Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai Lower Hutt), Bede Ngaruko (Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland), Shelly McNee (Hokitika), Kaye McLaren (Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington), Jacqui Gregory (Turangi), Denise Harrison Flett (Quebec, Canada), and Virginia Green (Whakatū Nelson). Pictures and profiles of CompleteMS recipients of 2025: Always fiercely contested, this year's CompleteMS programme received a record number of applications with 98 advanced and completed manuscripts submitted for the programme. The highly skilled judging panel of convenor Harriet Allan (independent editor and ex-senior Penguin Random House editor), Lee Murray (multi award-winning speculative fiction writer and poet) and Melinda Szymanik (multi award-winning writer of picture books, short stories and novels for children and young adults) had a complex judging task to complete and commented: 'The huge number of applications was daunting, the selection challenging but cheering, for so many people are keen to hone their manuscripts and develop their skills. And so many of the manuscripts showed such promise that there was a lot of jostling for the thirteen places available. The judging panel would have loved to have had the capacity to award more assessments. Those who missed out should feel confident that their works are still close to completion, as the quality of manuscripts submitted was high.' – Harriet Allan. NZSA would also like to congratulate shortlisted writers: Penelope Scott, Keryn Powell, Nikki Crutchley, Janine Williams and Carolyn Cossey. Many past recipients have produced final manuscripts that have achieved publication and acclaim. CompleteMS Manuscript Assessments are offered by The NZ Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi o Aotearoa (Pen NZ) Inc every year with the intent of fostering and developing emerging talent with the support of established practitioners. The NZSA has run highly successful manuscript assessment and mentoring programmes for writers since 1999 and our programmes are supported by funding from Creative New Zealand.
Scoop
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
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New Work By Talented Writers Win NZSA Manuscript Assessments
The New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi O Aotearoa (PEN NZ) Inc announce the writers who will receive manuscript guidance through this year's CompleteMS programme. Powerful manuscripts crafted by these accomplished writers, have been chosen to be part of this year's programme. Writers spend months polishing their stories for entry into this competitive and successful programme (open to NZSA members). The thirteen successful writers receive a detailed assessment of their manuscript from one of Aotearoa / New Zealand's leading writers and approved assessors, followed by a Q+A session with follow-up support. Our congratulations to the NZSA CompleteMS 2025 recipients: Anna Zam (Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland), Annabel Wilson (Swannanoa), Lisa Slavich (Whangārei), Barbara Scrivens (Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland), Tōrea Scott-Fyfe (Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington), Sarah Pratt (Ōtautahi Christchurch), Gráinne Patterson (Te Awa Kairangi ki Tai Lower Hutt), Bede Ngaruko (Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland), Shelly McNee (Hokitika), Kaye McLaren (Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington), Jacqui Gregory (Turangi), Denise Harrison Flett (Quebec, Canada), and Virginia Green (Whakatū Nelson). Pictures and profiles of CompleteMS recipients of 2025: Always fiercely contested, this year's CompleteMS programme received a record number of applications with 98 advanced and completed manuscripts submitted for the programme. The highly skilled judging panel of convenor Harriet Allan (independent editor and ex-senior Penguin Random House editor), Lee Murray (multi award-winning speculative fiction writer and poet) and Melinda Szymanik (multi award-winning writer of picture books, short stories and novels for children and young adults) had a complex judging task to complete and commented: 'The huge number of applications was daunting, the selection challenging but cheering, for so many people are keen to hone their manuscripts and develop their skills. And so many of the manuscripts showed such promise that there was a lot of jostling for the thirteen places available. The judging panel would have loved to have had the capacity to award more assessments. Those who missed out should feel confident that their works are still close to completion, as the quality of manuscripts submitted was high.' - Harriet Allan. NZSA would also like to congratulate shortlisted writers: Penelope Scott, Keryn Powell, Nikki Crutchley, Janine Williams and Carolyn Cossey. Many past recipients have produced final manuscripts that have achieved publication and acclaim. CompleteMS Manuscript Assessments are offered by The NZ Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi o Aotearoa (Pen NZ) Inc every year with the intent of fostering and developing emerging talent with the support of established practitioners. The NZSA has run highly successful manuscript assessment and mentoring programmes for writers since 1999 and our programmes are supported by funding from Creative New Zealand.
Scoop
11-07-2025
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Big Prize For Northland Writing Award
The NZ Society of Authors Northland Short Story Competition is open for 2025. Writers from all over New Zealand are encouraged to polish up their best pieces of writing for this Northland contest. NZSA Chair, Sherryl Clark, says increased prize money this year makes it a very attractive competition and she is hoping for many entries. 'The theme is open, so authors can choose any topic they wish. They have up to 1,500 words to impress the judges with their poignant, suspenseful, vivid, or electrifying stories.' Judges this year are Sherryl Clark and Coo Harkens, both successful published authors with wide writing experience. Ms Clark also pointed out the very healthy prize money this year with first prize being $1,000, thanks to Whangarei sponsors Vince's Fix-It Man Computer Services and Prose Publishing. The closing date in September 30th, entry fee is a very reasonable $10. There is also a secondary school competition and one for year seven and eight writers running concurrently. Entry form and all terms and conditions can be found at
Scoop
13-06-2025
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NZSA Writers' Award 2025 Opens
The CLNZ | NZSA Writers' Award of $25,000 is one of the highest value non-fiction prizes in New Zealand literature and it is now open for applications. He $25,000 te nui o te Karāti Kaituhi o te CLNZ me te NZSA, te karāti mātua mo ngā pakimaero-pono o ngā momo-tuhinga o Aotearoa. Ka taea e ngā Kaituhi te tuku tono mō tēnei karāti. Awards $25,000 cash grant to a New Zealand writer Assists with research and associated costs Is one of the highest value prizes awarded for non-fiction in New Zealand Is open now for entries The award was established to provide financial support for writers wishing to devote time to a specific project, and to cover reasonable research expenses relating to it. Writers with work in a broad range of non-fiction genres, including educational works, can apply. The Copyright Licensing New Zealand (CLNZ) and the New Zealand Society of Authors Te Puni Kaituhi o Aotearoa (NZSA) Writers' Award has supported the creation of Rebecca Macfie's book Helen Kelly: Her Life (Awa Press), a biography of one of New Zealand's political legends; Nic Low's book Uprising: Walking the Southern Alps of New Zealand (Text); the creation of Nick Bollinger's Ockham award-winning book Jumping Sundays: The Rise and Fall of the Counterculture in Aotearoa / New Zealand (AUP), Iona Winter's creative non-fiction project, A counter of moons (Steele Roberts Aotearoa, releasing in 2025) and the publication of Jade Kake's book, Rewi: Āta haere, kia tere (MUP), a tribute to the late architect Rewi Thompson. Last year, writer and historian Mark Derby won for his project with the working title Outlaw Prophet – Hakaraia Māhika and the Tauranga Wars. He says, 'The northeast Bay of Plenty, where my new book is set, is a long way from my home in Wellington, and not cheap to get to. I've been researching this book on and off for years in my own time, but the CLNZ | NZSA Writers' Award gave me the boost to really commit to writing it. I'd done a few books already, but I've never written fulltime until I received this financial support. Then, a few months later, I got a call from Hakaraia's descendants, inviting me to take part in a wānanga to share their knowledge of him. Because I had a travel budget, I could agree without hesitation. I think this book will be very much better for the support I've had from the CLNZ / NZSA fund.'
