I'm so excited that The Bold Ship Phenomenal has been shortlisted for the 2016 New Zealand Children's Book Awards.
There are four other shortlisted titles in the junior fiction category. I've read most of them (and will set about reading the other) and am honoured to be listed alongside them.
- David Hill - Enemy Camp
- Kate De Goldi - From the Cutting Room of Barney Kettle
- Jane Bloomfield - Lily Max: Satin, Scissors, Frock
- Stacy Gregg - The Girl Who Rode the Wind.
The awards ceremony is in August, and I'm feeling star-struck already. Many of the shortlisted authors from across all of the categories are my writing heroes.
Here's the awards shortlist.
And here's the judges' report.
And here are the lovely folk from Smartwork Creative who designed the book.
Three of the shortlisted books are their handy work, so they have every reason to feel pleased with themselves!
