The NZ Booklovers Awards 2023 shortlist, announced today, features a mixture of well-known writers and debut authors.
Books by Fiona Sussman, James Norcliffe, Paddy Richardson, Simon Wilson, Jane Ussher and John Walsh, and Rangi Matamua and Miriama Kamo are among the diverse titles nominated for the NZ Booklovers Awards, along with exciting new writers and outstanding debut books.
NZ Booklovers Director Karen McMillan says the awards, now in their fifth year, received a record-breaking 136 entries, and they are consistently the highest standard the judges had seen.
“This year, the standard of books entered was of the highest calibre across the board. It was a true pleasure to read so many outstanding books, but the challenge was whittling the entries down to those shortlisted. A tough task with much deliberation by our judges,’ Karen McMillan says.
The NZ Booklovers Awards 2023 shortlisted titles are:
NZ Booklovers Award for Best Adult Fiction Book 2023, sponsored by Lighthouse PR
- A Message for Nasty by Roderick Fry (Awa Press)
- Barefoot by R.V. Bayley (Eden St Press)
- By the Green of the Spring by Paddy Richardson (Quentin Wilson Publishing)
- Harbouring by Jenny Pattrick (Penguin Random House NZ)
- Mrs Jewell and the Wreck of the General Grant by Cristina Sanders (The Cuba Press)
- The Darkest Sin by D.V. Bishop (Macmillan Publishers)
- The Doctor’s Wife by Fiona Sussman (Bateman Books)
- The Frog Prince by James Norcliffe (Penguin Random House NZ)
- The Slow Roll by Simon Lendrum (Upstart Press)
NZ Booklovers Award for Best Lifestyle Book 2023, sponsored by Benefitz
- Grow: Wāhine finding connection through food by Sophie Merkins (Beatnik Publishing)
- HomeGround: The story of a building that changes lives bySimon Wilson, photographs Mark Smith (Massey University Press)
- Kai: Food stories and recipes from my family table by Christall Lowe (Bateman Books)
- New Zealand Gardens to Visit by Juliet Nicholas & Rosemary Barraclough (Penguin Random House NZ)
- Robin White: Something is Happening Here by Sarah Farrar, Jill Trevelyan and Nina Tonga (Te Papa Press and Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki)
- Rooms: Portraits of Remarkable New Zealand Interiors by Jane Ussher and John Walsh (Massey University Press)
- The Deep South by Andris Apse (Penguin Random House NZ)
- The Homemade Table by Nicola Galloway (Potton & Burton)
NZ Booklovers Award for Best Junior Fiction Book 2023, sponsored by The Kiwi Kids’ Bookstore
- Amorangi and Millie’s Trip through Time by Lauren Keenan (Huia Publishers)
- Kidnap At Mystery Island by Carol Garden (Scholastic NZ)
- Little Tales of Hedgehog and Goat by Paula Green, illustrations by Kimberly Andrews (Penguin Random House NZ)
- Masher by Fifi Colston (Penguin Random House NZ)
- Sylvia and the Birds by Johanna Emeny and Sarah Laing (Massey University Press)
- The Ghost House by Bill Nagelkerke (Ahoy! an imprint of The Cuba Press)
NZ Booklovers Award for Best Children’s Picture Book 2023, sponsored by Duckling Publishing
- Crane Guy by Sally Sutton, illustrations by Sarah Wilkins (Penguin Random House NZ)
- How My Koro Became a Star by Brianne Te Paa (Huia Publishers)
- Kororā and the Sushi Shop by Linda Jane Keegan (Scholastic NZ)
- Matariki Around The World by Rangi Matamua and Miriama Kamo, illustrations by Isobel Te Aho-White (Scholastic NZ)
- My Mum is Queen of the Road by Jennifer Beck (Huia Publishers)
- Roo and Vladimir by Minky Stapleton (Scholastic NZ)
- The Lighthouse Princess by Susan Wardell, illustrations by Rose Northey (Penguin Random House NZ)
The winner in each category will be announced on 30 March 2023, and each winner will receive $500 from NZ Booklovers.
The Best Adult Fiction Book Award is judged by author, reviewer and judge of the Ngaio Marsh Awards Stephanie Jones, publishing professional Rachel White, and NZ Booklovers Director and author Karen McMillan.
The Best Lifestyle Book Award is judged by journalist and author Andrea Molloy, former magazine editor and lifestyle journalist Peta Stavelli, and publisher, home renovator and foodie Iain McKenzie.
The Best Junior Fiction Book and Children’s Picture Book Award are judged by creative writing teacher, assessor, mentor and reviewer P.J. Richardson, writer and former editor Heidi North, and early childhood kaiako and journalist Rebekah Lyell.
About NZ Booklovers
NZbooklovers.co.nz is an online home for people who are passionate about books. Working alongside publishers, NZ Booklovers showcases both New Zealand and international titles. It provides reviews, author interviews, book news and competitions.
Director Karen McMillan heads up a talented team of contributors and reviewers, fellow readers and writers who are passionate about books and believe literature inspires and enhances people’s lives. The NZ Booklovers Awards are the brainchild of Karen McMillan to support the local publishing community and New Zealand authors.
