Mahurangi short story entries open

Readers are invited to let their imaginations take flight and write a story that has some link to the people or places of the greater Mahurangi district, from Puhoi north to Mangawhai and Maungaturoto.Stories should be no more than 1400 words and the best entries will be published in our January paper. The competition has two categories – open fiction and teen fiction (written by a teenager).

Judges Lorraine Orman and Lisa Outwin are avid readers and they are looking forward to reading a diverse range of stories.

Lisa is currently a librarian at Warkworth Library and has been part of the team there for 15 years, first as the children’s librarian and then as reference librarian. Her role includes reader’s advisory, facilitating book groups and helping customers with many aspects of digital technology.

She believes very strongly in the positive difference that libraries can make by enabling individuals to fulfil their potential and in helping to build strong communities. Her background before libraries was in publishing working for Penguin Books and Scholastic.

She has been an avid reader all her life and reads many different genres particularly enjoying thrillers, crime, drama and historical fiction.

When Lorraine retired from her job as a librarian, she decided to write books rather than look after them. Having worked in a secondary school library, she concentrated on children’s novels.

Eventually her first book for teenagers, Cross Tides, was published in 2004. This was followed by nine more books for teens and children, as well as short stories in numerous anthologies.

Her historical novel for teens called Here Come the Marines: Warkworth, 1943, was published by Scholastic NZ. Lorraine’s advice to competition entrants is to make sure their spelling and grammar are excellent. “And remember that judges, like all keen readers, love being made to laugh!”

The winner of the open fiction category will receive $400 and the winner of the teen fiction section will receive $250. The runners up in both categories will receive book vouchers from The Village Bookshop in Matakana.

A selection of the best stories will be published in the January 2016 issue of Mahurangi Matters.

Aspiring authors have until October 30 to submit their stories.

Entries must be an original unpublished short story and must be submitted with an official Entry Form.

Entry Forms and Terms & Conditions

You can also collect these from the office at 17 Neville Street.

Good luck!