Background

The award is not open to any author who has had a work of fiction (novel or picture book) or non-fiction for either children, young adults or adults published in digital or print format (i.e. one sold through physical or online bookstores) or in the process of publication. Previous publication by the author in school readers and similar educational material; magazine articles; short stories or poetry; or contribution to an anthology; or any self-publishing where the print run is under 300 copies, is allowable. (If in doubt, writers should seek a ruling from Storylines.)  Eligibility criteria are stated on the Entry Form.

The award carries a monetary prize of $1500 and an offer of publication by Scholastic New Zealand.

Manuscripts, with accompanying form and fee payment, must be postmarked no later than 31 October each year. The award winner is announced in March and the published book launched the following year.

Entry form and guidelines:

Storylines Tom Fitzgibbon Award guidelines and entry form.

2018 Tom Fitzgibbon Award Winner

The winner of the 2018 Storylines Tom Fitzgibbon Award is James Guthrie of Wellington for Bullseye Bella. Scholastic publisher Penny Scown said, "From the moment I began reading this story, I was absolutely enthralled. It was a story about a girl who plays darts, of all things! Who knew darts could be so exciting? I was totally drawn into this story....
"This is a story that ticks all the boxes: strong female protagonist but doing something not particularly girly, so it’s a story that would appeal to both sexes. A little brother who’s a maths whiz and so fascinated with pirates that he believes he is one – Blackbeard, no less. And it’s peopled with a cast of characters that are so well-drawn, you’ll feel like you know them personally by the end of the book. Also, it transpires that Max (Blackbeard’s real name) has Asperger’s (but this isn’t made a big deal of). However, it does provide an impetus for the story – Bella is compelled to enter a local darts competition (unbeknownst to her mother) in an effort to win money and help her Mum pay for Max’s special school.
"It’s a compelling, exciting read, well written with good drama and a great climax."
Author James Guthrie said the story came to him one day as a complete plot, with characters and story line fully formed. Two years of part-time writing later he completed the manuscript, in time to enter it for the award. He is already working with Scholastic on editing, and is looking forward to the book launch at next year's Storylines Margaret Mahy Awards Day.

• Glenis Bearsley (Palmerston North) for what Penny Scown described as "a great New Zealand adventure story #Unbelievable, which ticked many boxes: voice, villains, modern techy stuff, ancient Maori stuff, and both boy and girl protagonists".

• Gay Buckingham (Dunedin) for Kakapo Keeper, based on a real-life story that demonstrates how conservation efforts for kakapo and kiwi have been taking place in New Zealand since the late 1800s – and the heartbreak even then of discovering a stoat on a supposedly predator-free island.

2017 winner launched in 2018

Winner of the 2017 Storylines Tom Fitzgibbon Award for a children's novel manuscript by an unpublished writer, in association with Scholastic New Zealand, was librarian Chrissi Walker, of Christchurch for her manuscript The Short But Brilliant Career of Lucas Weed.

Her manuscript emerged from the publishing process and the book was launched on 8 April 2018 at the Storylines Margaret Mahy Awards Day.

At the launch, Chrissi noted that she's as passionate as ever about engaging children with books and reading, and hopes that in Lucas Weed she has created a funny, likeable character.