Some of my favourite books from 2019 are here and some of my favourites are not – and that is the way of book awards.

Poetry Award

Edgeland and other Poems by David Eggleton (Otago University Press)

The Farewell Tourist by Alison Glenny (Otago University Press)

Are Friends Electric? by Helen Heath (Victoria University Press)

All of Us by Adrienne Jansen and Carina Gallegos (Landing Press)

There’s No Place Like the Internet in Springtime by Erik Kennedy (Victoria University Press)

The Facts by Therese Lloyd (Victoria University Press)

Winter Eyes by Harry Ricketts (Victoria University Press)

Walking to Jutland Street by Michael Steven (Otago University Press)

Poūkahangatus by Tayi Tibble (Victoria University Press)

Aspiring Daybook: The Diary of Elsie Winslow by Annabel Wilson (Mākaro Press)

The Poetry Award: Bryan Walpert, Airini Beautrais and Karlo Mila.

Young and emerging writers, rejoice! The dear old Spinoff Review of Books unveils a new writer-in-residence award – open only to those tender of age and prodigious of talent.

Young and emerging writers in New Zealand get a pat on the head now and then, a little bit of praise, limited exposure, sod-all money, and not a lot else – until now. The Spinoff is pleased to announce an annual writer’s residency which is eligible only to writers of tender years and wondrous promise.

The Spinoff Review of Books Writer-in-Residence Award is held in association with the Rise Pop-up Apartments in Wellington. It will be held annually, and the winner shall receive:

• Accommodation at a cool apartment in downtown Wellington, for about a month, from mid-January to mid-February. The room (worth $275 a week) is gratis, and includes furniture, bedding, ensuite bathroom, kitchenette and weekly cleaning service
• $400 per week stipend
• A number of free meals courtesy of Egmont St Eatery and Rogue Burger
• A nice bunch of flowers and an awesome welcome pack of goodies upon arrival.

The 2020 award will be open to all young and emerging writers. The winner of the inaugural 2019 award has already been chosen, and indeed arrived at the apartment this weekend – the dazzlingly gifted Hamilton writer Aimee-Jane Anderson-O’Connor.

Full details here

Jack Ross has just announced the Poetry NZ Poetry Prize winners on his blog – they will appear in the next issue of Poetry NZ. Wes Lee takes top prize.

See here for details

The Best Small Fictions – an annual series since 2015 – seeks works of short fiction published within the 2018 calendar year for its 2019 anthology. Editors may submit up to five works of short fiction of up to approximately 1000 words. We encourage an eclectic array of styles and approaches. We seek work featuring memorable imagery, characterization, and language. Pieces which exemplify the delicate, deliberate craftsmanship of this short form.

Deadline 01 February 2019.

Series Editor: Nathan Leslie

2019 Guest Editor: Rilla Askew

Assistant Editor: Michelle Elvy

Published by Sonder Press.

For submission guidelines

Pegasus Books is thrilled to announce the Pegasus Books Poetry Reading Series 2019. We have an extraordinary lineup of poets from across New Zealand who will be reading their poems in store throughout the year.

Readings are held every 6 weeks on Friday night at 6.30pm. Each reading features four poets.

We kick off on February 8 with:

Airini Beautrais, Maria McMillan, essa ranapiri, Harry Ricketts.

Check out their Facebook page for upcoming events