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NZSA TOP OF THE SOUTH NEWS
12 August 2016
Send Top of the South news to Chrissie Ward at or phone 03-546-9818. Let me know about meetings, coming events, book launches, new publications, literary successes, etc. Don’t forget to tell me if you change your email address. Past newsletters are archived for a month on our website www.topwriters.co.nz. Follow us on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/topwritersNZSA
DO YOU CREATE COPYRIGHT? GET YOUR VOICE HEARD!
If you are a creator of copyright material then the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment would like to hear from you. They are seeking input from people and organisations who create and use copyright materials. The more information that can be gathered about the impact of copyright on the creative sector the better.
1. What can you do? Fill in the survey.
2. How? The survey is online. Follow the links to http://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/2962105/Copyright-in-New-Zealand
3. Be quick –the survey is only open until Friday 19 August. It only takes 15 minutes to fill in.
4. Circulate this to others; we need as many people as possible to get their views heard.
WELL DONE, RACHAEL!
Congratulations to Nelson member Rachael Craw, whose book Stray won the Young Adult Fiction category in the HELL Children’s Choice section of the 2016 NZ Book Awards for Children and Young Adults. The results of the awards were announced at a ceremony in Wellington on Monday 8 August. Read more here: http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/310468/story-of-wartime-heroes-wins-children's-book-award
New Zealand children enthusiastically voted for their own specially selected finalists’ list for this year’s HELL Children’s Choice Awards, and each book wins $1,000. Stray is the second novel in a sci-fi crossover trilogy about a girl who has been genetically engineered to protect others using her enhanced physical and telepathic powers. The first novel Spark has been optioned by New Zealand film company Miss Conception Films, fitting perfectly with their mission to ‘make films with strong female protagonists.’ The third book Shield is due to be published on 1 September. Read Rachael’s profile here: http://www.topwriters.co.nz/rachael-craw.html
MARLBOROUGH WRITERS MONTHLY MEETING
The next meeting of the Marlborough Writers will be on Tuesday 16 August at the Argosy Café, 760 Middle Renwick Road (opposite Woodbourne Airport). Theymeet at 1.30 pm for coffee, to discuss any business and share their writing, a 200-word piece on the topic 'Escape'.
Visitors are always welcome. For more information, contact June Bowen at 03-577 9035, or Dot Scott on 03-578 8029,
AN INVITATION TO WRITERS IN THE MARLBOROUGH DISTRICT
All writers in the Marlborough district are invited to express their interest in becoming part of a new ‘Writers of Marlborough’ website.
Aim: Promoting your work and profiling yourself to your readers.
There will be a meeting to discuss this exciting project at Fairweathers, 36 Scott Street, Blenheim, on Thursday 18 August at 5pm. For more information contact Dot Scott at
TALK: WHY ORAL HISTORY?
As part of Family History Month, Picton member Loreen Brehaut will be joined by Helen Pannett to give a talk on the subject Why Oral History? on Thursday 18 August, 12 – 1.15 pm at the Elma Turner Library in Nelson. Loreen has been involved with oral history for many years, and describes her chief skill as ‘editing other people’s spoken words into readable text.’ Read her profile here: http://www.topwriters.co.nz/loreen-brehaut.html
TAKAHE MAGAZINE NOW ONLINE
The first online issue of takahē magazine was published on 10 August. It contains a stimulating collection of poetry and short stories, plus details of the 2016 poetry competition which closes on 31 August. Read the issue here:
http://www.takahe.org.nz/t87/
EVENTS ON NATIONAL POETRY DAY– FRIDAY 26 AUGUST
NELSON LIBRARY: OPEN MIC POETRY
The Elma Turner Library is holding an open mic poetry session to celebrate National Poetry Day on Friday 26 August from 12 noon to 2 pm. Come to read, or just listen, to Nelson’s local poetry talent. All are welcome, please arrive on time to register to read.Further information from: nelsonpubliclibraries.co.nz/my-library/library-news/national-poetry-day-2016
NELSON LIBRARY: RANDOM POETRY GENERATOR & POETRY FRIDGE DOOR
Check out the random poetry generating computer at Elma Turner Library. Inspiring and/or optimistic poems are only the push of a button away. Random poems can be displayed in the library on the extra sized fridge door, or people can bring their own, human created, poems for display.Entry is free and open to all. The Elma Turner Library in Halifax Street is open every day from 9.30 am to 6 pm. Further information from: nelsonpubliclibraries.co.nz/my-library/library-news/national-poetry-day-2016
MOTUEKA LIBRARY: POETRY EXTRAVAGANZA EVENING
Celebrate National Poetry Day with poetry readings by accomplished poet Lesley McKay. Lesley has won the Poems in the Waiting Room poetry contest twice, and has published poems about the Christchurch earthquake’s Red Zone. The winners of the haiku competition, which was judged by Lesley, will be announced during the event. Come along to the Motueka Library at 12 Pah Street on Friday 26 August between 6.30 – 7.30 pm. Light refreshments provided. Gold coin donation appreciated. For more information contact
PICTON POETS MEET ON NATIONAL POETRY DAY
Picton Poets next meeting is on Friday 26 August, National Poetry Day. They will get together at 10.30 am at Le Café, 12-14 London Quay, Picton. Bring a short poem to write on the footpath with chalk.
Picton Poets usually meet on the third Wednesday of the month at the Old Medical Centre next to Picton Library. They will be back there for their meeting on 21 September, when there will be a writing topic (to be announced).
COMPETITIONS FOR NATIONAL POETRY DAY
NATONAL ONLINE POETRY COMPETITION
Tararua District Library is celebrating National Poetry Day with a nationwide Online Poetry Competition. Judged by local author Muriel Cowan, the competition closes on 22 August, and the winner will be announced on 26 August. There are prizes for the best two poems and up to two poems per entrant will be published on the Tararua District Library Blog.
The competition is free to enter and is open to all NZ residents aged 18 and over. Send up to four poems on any topic. Submit your poems with your contact details by email to . For further information, see:tararualibrary.wordpress.com/
MOTUEKA LIBRARY HAIKU COMPETITION
As part of National Poetry Day celebrations, Motueka Library is running a competition to write a haiku poem. All residents of Tasman and Nelson may enter and may submit as many poems as they like, with no entry fee. Drop your entry into Motueka Library or email it to .
The theme for the haiku is ‘nature’. There are three categories: Adult, Young Adult, or Child. Prizes are book vouchers from Paper Plus. The competition will be judged by Lesley McKay, and the results will be announced at an event at the library on National Poetry Day, Friday 26 August. Entries close on Monday 22 August.
GREY DISTRICT LIBRARY POETRY COMPETITION
There are three age categories for this free competition, which is open only to Grey District residents. The categories are: 13 years and under; 14 to 17; 18 years and over. Poems can be on any topic. One poem per person. Submit your poem, age range, address and contact details by email to no later than Friday 19 August. The writer of the most engaging poem in each category will win a Paperplus voucher.
Winners will be announced at a National Poetry Day warm-up event hosted by the Grey District Library at 5.30 pm on Wednesday 24 August. Prize winning poems will be read aloud at three local rest homes on National Poetry Day, Friday 26 August. Contact Details:Ollie Witton, or 03-768 5597. For further information, see www.facebook.com/GreyDistrictLibrary
NELSON ARTS FESTIVAL
Beginning with the Masked Parade, this year’s Nelson Arts Festival – the twenty-second – runs from 12 to 14 October.
The Page & Blackmore Readers and Writers section takes place from 14 – 24 October and features the following line-up: Witi Ihimaera, Stacy Gregg, Alice Galletly, Peter Simpson, Helene Wong, Joan Druett, Laurence Fearnley, David Coventry, Roger Shepherd, Jillian Sullivan, Sarah Laing, Hera Lindsay Bird, and publisher Bridget Williams. The two Thinking Brunches discuss ‘Where do we come from? – migration & belonging’, and ‘Where are we going? – our near future’.
The above events take place at the Granary Festival Café at Founders Park and in the Suter Theatre (the Suter reopens on 2 October). Ticket prices for most of them are: early bird $12, full price $16. In addition there will be PechaKucha on 17 October ($10), Couch Stories on 18 October ($13), and the Nelson Regional Poetry Slam finals on 19 October ($20).
Pick up a paper copy of the programme from outlets throughout Nelson/ Tasman, or check it out online at www.nelsonartsfestival.co.nz. Early bird tickets for relevant events are available until 31 August. There is a special offer for the Readers and Writers events (excluding the Thinking Brunches) of 5 tickets for $50 or 10 for $9, available only from the Theatre Royal, Nelson.
TAHUNA BEACH SHORT STORY & POETRY COMPETITION
The Tahuna Beach Holiday Park has been available for holidaymakers and locals to enjoy since 1926. To celebrate 90 years, they are calling for people nationwide to submit their memories of staying at the park, including short stories, poems and photos. The best stories and photos, along with official archival material, will be featured on the official website and the public will be invited to vote. There is a wonderful array of prizes on offer.
Short stories should be 300 – 700 words in length; poems can be from the length of a haiku up to 26 lines. You may also choose to submit photographs that illustrate your story if you wish. This competition closes on 31 October. The selection period, including public voting, takes place from 1 November to 23 Decemer 2016, and the winners will be announced at a special event at Tahuna Beach Holiday park on 6 January 2017.
To find out more and to enter, go to: http://collectiveholidaymemories.nz/