News Room

Nielsen BookData NZ Booksellers Choice Award 2008 - Shortlist announced

5 May 2008

For the first time in history of the Nielsen BookData New Zealand Booksellers' Choice Award several titles received precisely the same number of nominations, making it impossible to create a shortlist of four titles.

Daring to go where not many people have gone before, we have decided to announce a 'long shortlist' and it is wonderful to see the breadth of subjects enjoyed by the New Zealand Book Trade and its customers.

This award is unique in that it acknowledges the key role booksellers play in supporting New Zealand writing and publishing. Booksellers are asked to vote for the book they have most enjoyed reading, selling and promoting.

The award carries a prize of $NZ2500 for the winning author. All booksellers who vote will enter a prize draw for a subscription to BookData-Online.

The 2008 'long shortlist' is, in alpahbetical order:

- A Nest of singing Birds: One Hundred Years of the New Zealand School Journal by Gregory O'Brien, published by Learning Media

- Bill Hammond: Jingle Jangle Morning by Jennifer Hay, published by the Christchurch Art Gallery

- Edwin and Matilda: An Unlikely Love Story by Laurence Fearnley, published by Penguin Books NZ Ltd

- Mau Moko: The World of Maori Moko by Ngahuia Te Awekotuku, published by Penguin Books NZ Ltd

- New New Zealand Houses by Patrick Reynolds and John Walsh, published by Random House New Zealand Ltd

- New Zealand's Wilderness Heritage by Les Molloy and Craig Potton, published by Craig Potton Publishing

- Ribbons of Grace by Maxine Alterio, published by Penguin Books NZ Ltd

- Soundtrack: 118 Great New Zealand Albums by Grant Smithies, published by Craig Potton Publishing

- The Road to Castle Hill by Christine Fernyhough with Louise Callan, published by Random House New Zealand Ltd

Voting forms will be included in the June issue of the Booksellers News magazine and voting will close Friday 27 June 2008.

The winner will be announced in Wellington at the 2008 Book Industry Awards and Conference Dinner on Sunday 20 July 2008.

For more details on this award please contact Lara Petry on ph: 09 360 3294 or lara.petry@nielsenbookdata.co.nz