• amazon UK top read

    amazon UK top read

    Amazon Rising Stars Pick!
    Delighted to learn that ‘Shifting Colours’ has been picked as an Amazon UK top read and has been shortlisted for the Amazon Rising Stars 2014. It will be showcased on their website 13-20th July and an overall winner will be chosen at the end of the year. Reviews can be posted on Amazon UK or tweeted using #AmazonRisingStars.
    11June2014

  • sentenced: kobo prizewinner 2014

    sentenced

    Winner of the 2014 Kobo/NZAuthor Publishing Prize

    Kobo Writing LifeThe New Zealand Society of Authors

    WINNERS OF PUBLISHING CHANCE OF A LIFETIME ANNOUNCED

    The New Zealand Society of Authors (PEN NZ Inc) announces the winners of its inaugural E-Publishing prize offered with international publishing giant Kobo Writing Life.

    Two new authors have won the publishing chance of a lifetime, with the inaugural 2014 Kobo/NZ Authors E-Publishing Prize which will see their books professionally published by the Kobo Writing Life platform.

    Fiona Sussman is fiction winner with Sentenced, a gritty novel about disaffected youth in the New Zealand urban underbelly.   Judges described Sentenced as a gripping, thought provoking story about a tough subject. 

    Robin Sisley wins the non-fiction category with Eat the Wind about rescuing stallions from slaughter before the 1997 muster of the Kaimanawa wild horses. Judges commented that the manuscript stood out with lively writing which flowed naturally and a subject both exciting and surprising.

    The results of on-line reader voting on writing samples of the 10 finalists coincided with the decision of judges, which means both Sussman and Sisley win a Kobo reader as well as fully professional editing and digital publication.

    “The purpose of the award was to recognise excellence in creative writing as well as to create a launching pad for writers’ careers, and clearly these two manuscripts stood out,” says NZ Society of Authors President Kyle Mewburn. “We look forward to following their careers on the international platform which this prize can provide. It is a significant win and we congratulate these new writers.”

    Kobo Writing Life operations manager Jodi White convened the judging panel.  “Kobo is proud and very delighted to be a part of this Publishing Prize, and are excited to offer these authors the opportunity to publish a professional book, at such a value that the author probably could not afford to do on their own.  Kobo’s panel of judges really enjoyed this and having the opportunity to be part of kick-starting an author’s career is truly something we value and believe in.

    “We cannot wait to start working with the authors.”

    The New Zealand Society of Authors, http://www.authors.org.nz, December 2013

    http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU1312/S00321/winners-of-publishing-chance-of-a-lifetime-announced.htm

    19 December 2013

  • ip picks 2020 award

    shifting colours – ip picks 2020 award

    Best Fiction | Commended • | Fiona Sussman: Shifting Colours
    “Shifting Colours is a powerful story of family ties, secrets and love. This intriguing novel is foremost about the relationship between Celia and her daughter Miriam and all the struggles and turmoil that come between them. Separated by land and sea, Celia and Miriam’s story begins in South Africa’s violent landscape and then continues in calm, quiet England. As you turn the pages, you are magnetised by the surprises, great details and the captivating writing that takes you into the heart and mind of the characters.”
    IP eNews 45, Vol 12, No 1
    4 January 2012

  • the gift

    the gift

    the gift

    First Place Graeme Lay Short Story Competition 2012
    “This story manages in less than 1500 words to present the complexities of the life and death of its deceased central character. Skillfully structured, many-layered, and with a deeply satisfying ending, The Gift is a worthy winner of this year’s competition. Fiona read her story to a packed auditorium and the enthusiastic applause that followed was vindication the delighted audience wholeheartedly agreed with Graeme Lay’s selection.”
    Beatties Book Blog – unofficial homepage of the New Zealand book community, Monday, December 10, 2012 : beattiesbookblog.blogspot.com
    3 January 2012