‘4th Floor’ Literary Journal Revamp

Wednesday 5 November 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

‘4th Floor’ Literary Journal Revamp

www.whitireia.ac.nz/4thfloor (address corrected 12/11/08)

The 4th Floor online literary journal is back with a new look and the latest and greatest kiwi writing from students of Whitireia Polytechnic’s Creative Writing Programme.

4th Floor has for several years provided an eclectic and impressive range of new writing, showcasing the programme’s best and brightest emerging talents. The new issue, 4th floor 2008, was launched in October, and again features a diverse range of short stories and poetry covering all the bases: love, tragedy, racism, post-colonial frustrations, despair, depression, elation.

4th Floor 2008 spotlights exciting writing from a variety of celebrated New Zealand poets who have garnered awards and critical appraisal in the past few years. Amongst this year’s contributors are Nicola Easthope, a poet who won second prize in the Bravado International Poetry competition and whose previous work has appeared in Takahe, Landfall and the Guardian Unlimited; Helen Lehndorf, a writer and teacher whose most recent work has been published in the new New Zealand political poetry anthology, Kaupapa; and Anahera Gildea, a winner of the 2007 Pikihuia Awards for Best Novel Extract.

The new issue also features work by Tusiata Avia, globe-trotting performance poet, Fulbright Scholar and children’s writer who was shortlisted for the prestigious 2006 Prize in Modern Letters.

The 4th Floor literary journal is a partnership between students on the Whitireia Polytechnic Creative Writing Programme and the editing and design skills of Whitireia Publishing Diploma students. The publishing students have helped to create a new look for the website this year, designed to make the text easy to read and the stie easy to negotiate.

This year’s issue has been developed and edited by well-known poet, musician, writer and producer, Hinemoana Baker. Hinemoana is a multitalented artist whose poetry was a personal favourite of Lord of the Rings star, Viggo Mortenson. His publishing house, Perceval Press partnered with VUP and published ‘mātuhi | needle‘ in 2004. Hinemoana Baker’s début album ‘puāwai’ was a finalist for Best Folk Album in 2004 and the esteemed APRA Silver Scroll Awards. In 2007 she co-edited Kaupapa, a collection of critically acclaimed political poetry from some of New Zealand’s best poets.

Not only is this year’s new look 4th Floor Literary Journal full of great writers, but many of them also play a big part in the New Zealand performance scene. Hinemoana Baker performs her poetry and music live around New Zealand, and in Australia and Indonesia. Some of this year’s 4th Floor have performed at packed out events in Paekakariki and Wellington city.

ENDS

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