Stray wins the Children’s Choice Award for Young Adult Fiction.

Category: Awards, Stray, Walker Books Australia

August 8th, 6.30pm at the Circa Theatre in Wellington, I was delighted to hear my name announced at the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults when Stray won the Children’s Choice category for YA. Hoorah! I had about 12 flustered seconds from my seat to the stage to try and think of something charming and gracious to say. I was pink-faced and gabbling and completely chuffed. What an honour. It was a fun night catching up with many friends and familiar faces. New Zealand has a wonderfully supportive community of children’s writers and I am so blessed to be a part of it. The big winner on the night was ANZAC Heroes, written by Maria Gill and illustrated by Marco Ivancic, a gorgeous non-fiction book filled with moving stories, interesting facts and beautiful illustrations.

Sorry about the blurry pic! But here’s me mid-fluster.

And I had to celebrate with a Dunken’ Donut at the airport the next day. Plus: my pretty certificate nestled amongst my reading, drinking, feasting.