N.  I’ve always had a love of language. Books and writing have been an integral part of my identity. Being an author, however, always seemed the dream that wasn’t possible – but as with all dreams, if you don’t sit down and make them a reality, they will never become one.

I’ve worked very hard to master language and words in a way that would help me express exactly what I meant to say creatively. The Story of Q. is the first result of this passion rooted endeavor.

Q.  The book revolves around spirituality, God and religion. How do you define your faith? Did it change over the course of the writing of Q.?

N.  I don’t answer questions about my faith very willingly because I think the discussion raised by the story of Q. is far more important than anything I might or might not believe or any church/temple I might or might not attend. The closest answer I’ll give is via the above link.

Q.  Your website says it took six years of research for Q. What were you feeling as you finally finished the book and sent it off?

N.  I felt relief, but only for a few moments because I understood how much work still lay ahead.

Publishing a book is no small task – I had received numerous rejection letters from agents in North America and the UK which inspired me to sign with an independent publisher in America. An industry contact in New York gave me great advice in this regard. It was a lovely moment for me when I received the news about the Ashton Wylie – a sweet validation – I felt very proud that four or so months after publication the book was nominated for one of New Zealand’s most prestigious literary awards.

Q.  How do you feel about your nomination for the Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust Book Award?

N.  It is an enormous honour to be a finalist for the Ashton Wylie Book Award. The competition is very distinguished and past winners are world renowned for their work. I am humbled and thrilled that my book is being recognized alongside other incredible works.

the story of Q. has been short-listed for the Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust Book Award, one of New Zealand’s biggest literary awards honouring literature that assists in the further education and enlightenment of humanity.

Awards night is the 19th of August, 2011 in Auckland, New Zealand.

Media: please see the following media release

Media Release

29 July 2011

TOP NEW ZEALAND WRITERS IN RUNNING FOR NATIONAL LITERATURE AWARD

-Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust Unpublished Manuscript and Book Awards 2011-

A group of New Zealanders with extraordinary literary talent have been shortlisted for the 2011 Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust Literature Awards, with five finalists in the book, and four in the unpublished manuscript category.

The Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust in conjunction with the New Zealand Society of Authors (NZSA), offers one of the largest monetary prizes for literature in the country with two awards of $10,000.

The awards recognise both budding and published writers whose work embodies the mind, body, spirit genre with two separate accolades, the Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust Book Award and the Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust Unpublished Manuscript Award.

The finalists in the book category are John Bluck, for his work entitled “Hidden Country: Having faith in Aotearoa NZ”, Natasha Freeman with “The Story of Q”, Wendy Betteridge for “It’s Your Thoughts That Count”, Anne Powell with “Tree of a Thousand Voices” and Keith Hill with “The God Revolution”.

In the unpublished manuscript category, Michele Powles is a finalist for “The Mind My Father Made”, Alan Dawe with “The God Franchise”, Robyn Speed with “Chalice” and Mary Ballard with “The Snowflake Clouds”.

Maggie Tarver, Chief Executive Officer for the NZSA, says the 2011 awards attracted an impressive response from New Zealand writers.

“The 2011 Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust Literature Awards received a remarkable number of written works, with 31 entries in the published book category, and 57 entries in the unpublished manuscript category,” says Ms Tarver.

“Entries were of a very high standard and each of the shortlisted finalists has produced work of an excellent quality which demonstrates they have a natural aptitude for writing and possess a true understanding of the mind, body, spirit category.”

Judges for the 2011 Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust Literature Awards were publisher, Bob Ross, owner and manager of Pepperleaf Publishing, Gillian Tewsley and founder and owner of Pathfinder Book Shop, Jennifer Eddington.

The Awards will be announced in a ceremony at the Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust’s own venue, the Hopetoun Alpha in Auckland on Friday 19 August 2011.

The Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust will also be hosting an informative Publishing for Authors workshop following the Awards on Saturday 20^th August 2011 at the Hopetoun Alpha.

Guest speakers include Steve Messenger of PrintStop, Paula Browning of Copyright Licensing Ltd, Sarah Gumbley, legal publisher and consultant, and Maria Gill, published author.

Registrations for the workshop are open to the general public, and those interested in attending should email Litsa Katsoulis atinfo@awct.org.nz.

ENDS

For more information please contact:

Mary-Louise Dare, Professional Public Relations: 09 979 2000

Litsa Katsoulis, Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust: 0800 367 242

Tina Shaw, NZSA Programme Manager, NZ Society of Authors: 09 379 4801

NOTES:

ABOUT THE ASHTON WYLIE CHARITABLE TRUST

The late Auckland businessman Ashton Wylie was a philanthropist with a wide range of interests particularly in the area of personal development and positive relationships.  The Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust was set up at Ashton’s request and was named after him.

Ashton Wylie believed that if one wanted to change the world, one had to first change oneself.  Changes are then made by example as ultimately, one can change for the better others that reside within one’s sphere of influence.

The Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust was set up following Ashton Wylie’s death in 1999 with the mandate of having human relationships as its focus, and its main intent being to promote more loving relationships.

For further information visit: www.awct.org.nz

THE NEW ZEALAND SOCIETY OF AUTHORS

The New Zealand Society of Authors (PEN NZ Inc) is the principal representative for the professional interests of authors in New Zealand. It began as the NZ PEN Centre in 1934 in Wellington. From 1934 onwards the organisation campaigned for a public lending right, and in 1973 the Authors’ Fund was established. In 1975 PEN initiated the NZ Writers’ Guild to represent writers in their dealings with broadcasting and professional theatres.

The NZSA runs a range of programmes, which encourage emerging writers, and actively represents writers’ interests on a number of fronts with publishers and others.

The Society’s major goals are the full representation and support of writers; an ongoing interest in writers being rewarded and recognised for their professional work; the protecting of freedom of expression and cultural diversity celebrated through literature.