I've already mentioned this on my web site, but wanted to add word of it here as well: RANGATIRA is a finalist in this year's New Zealand Post Book Awards.
The other two fiction finalists are both excellent short-story collections: FROM UNDER THE OVERCOAT by Sue Orr, and Fiona Kidman's THE TROUBLE WITH FIRE. RANGATIRA, by the way, is one of several Maori/Polynesian books shortlisted in the awards this year.
I'm very excited to be a finalist in our national book awards, and will be going back to Auckland in late July in time for the awards ceremony on August 1st. Thanks to Penguin for bringing me home, and to everyone for their messages of support.
If you live in NZ and want to nominate RANGATIRA for the People's Choice Award, you can do that at the Booksellers.co.nz web site. The deadline is Friday July 6th.
When we were in New Zealand last month, we drove up to Omaha, a place Paratene Te Manu knew well - though he wouldn't recognise much about the world beyond the dunes now. It was a fine autumn day, and Hauturu/Little Barrier, one of his homes, looked close enough to touch.
Congratulations, Paula. I gave a squeal of excitement when I saw Rangitira was a finalist. It's a a fabulous book and a well deserved accolade!
Posted by: Vanda Symon | June 22, 2012 at 10:08 PM