Storylines Tom Fitzgibbon Award
Changes to the Storylines Tom Fitzgibbon AwardThe annual Storylines Tom Fitzgibbon Award for a junior manuscript is now open to all New Zealand authors who meet the residency criteria. Since its inception in 1996 the award has been open only to previously unpublished writers. |
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Storylines Tom Fitzgibbon Award -The Storylines Tom Fitzgibbon Award for an original junior novel, in partnership with Scholastic NZ, is open to all New Zealand writers, and is made annually, when merited, to the author of a work of fiction for children between seven and 13 years of age.The award carries a monetary prize of $1500 and an offer of publication by Scholastic New Zealand. Scholastic has produced a poster celebrating previous Storylines Tom Fitzgibbon Award winners. In 2019 there was regrettably no shortlist, as none of the manuscripts submitted was deemed by the judging panel to meet the required standard. Read tips from a previous Storylines Tom Fitzgibbon Award winner about how best to approach and present your novel manuscript. |
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BackgroundThe Storylines Tom Fitzgibbon Award was established in 1995 to recognise the outstanding contribution made by the late Tom Fitzgibbon to the growth and status of children’s literature in New Zealand.For many years Head of the English Department at North Shore Teachers’ College and the Auckland College of Education, Tom founded the Children’s Literature Association of New Zealand and later became the first chair of the New Zealand Children’s Book Foundation, forerunner of Storylines. The award is administered by Storylines and sponsored by Scholastic New Zealand. It is made annually, when merited, to the author of a work of fiction for children between seven and 13 years of age. |
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The award is open to any author who meets the New Zealand residency criteria. (If in doubt, writers should seek a ruling from Storylines.) Eligibility criteria are stated on the Entry Form. Entry form and guidelines:Storylines Tom Fitzgibbon Award guidelines and entry form. |
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Launch of 2018 Storylines Tom Fitzgibbon Award winnerBullseye Bella by James Guthrie, the 2018 Storylines Tom Fitzgibbon winner for a manuscript by a previously unpublished writer, was launched at the 2019 Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal and Awards Day on 31 March 2019.Scholastic New Zealand launched the 2018 Storylines Tom Fitzgibbon Award winner, Bullseye Bella, at this year’s Storylines Margaret Mahy Day. Scholastic NZ publisher Lynette Evans introduced winning author James T. Guthrie, and presented him with a hamper before the formal launch of the book by Margaret Fitzgibbon, daughter of Tom. The books tells the story of Bella Kerr, darts prodigy, who secretly enters a darts competition at the local pub to help raise funds for her little brother's special schooling. The old boys' network of darts players are not happy.... – and so begins a tale laced with humour and full of nail-biting drama. Bullseye Bella is published by Scholastic New Zealand, Storylines' partner in the Storylines Tom Fitzgibbon Award. Margaret Fitzgibbon congratulates James Guthrie on the launch of Bullseye Bella; Lynette Evans, publisher at Scholastic NZ, looks on. |
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Praise for 2018 Tom Fitzgibbon Award WinnerThe winner of the 2018 Storylines Tom Fitzgibbon Award was James Guthrie of Wellington for Bullseye Bella. Scholastic senior editor 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.... |
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2017 winner launched in 2018 |
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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. |
Recipients of the Storylines Tom Fitzgibbon Award:
- 1996: Iona McNaughton; manuscript published as Summer of Shadows.
- 1997: Heather Cato; manuscript published as Dark Horses.
- 1998: Vince Ford; manuscript published as 2MUCH4U.
- 1999: Shirley Corlett; manuscript published as The Stolen.
- 2000: Alison Robertson; manuscript published as Knocked for Six.
- 2001: no award.
- 2002: Janet Pates; manuscript published as Mystery at Tui Bay.
- 2003: Jillian Sullivan; manuscript published as Shreve’s Promise.
- 2004: Brigid Feehan; manuscript published as Stella Star.
- 2005: Heather McQuillan; manuscript published as Mind Over Matter.
- 2006: Vicki Simpson; manuscript published Yo, Shark Bait!
- 2007: Kris Stanhope; manuscript published as Why I Hate School by Michael Fartarsky.
- 2008: Elizabeth Hegarty; manuscript published as Salt River.
- 2009: Anna Gowan; manuscript published as Hollie Chips.
- 2010: Leonie Agnew; manuscript published as Super Finn.
- 2011: KathyTaylor; manuscript published as Iris's Ukulele.
- 2012: no award.
- 2013: Juliet Jacka, manuscript published as The Night of the Perigee Moon.
- 2014: Suzanne Main, manuscript published as How I Alienated My Grandma.
- 2015: Tom E. Moffatt, manuscript published as Barking Mad
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2016: Anne Kayes, manuscript published as Tui Street Tales.
- 2017: Christine Walker for manuscript entitled The Short But Brilliant Career of Lucas Weed
- 2018: James Guthrie for manuscript entitled Bullseye Bella
- 2019: no award
