Auck. Author Wins Top Prize With First 'Big Book'

Auckland Author Wins Top Prize With First 'Big Book'

Heather Nicholson of Auckland has won the 1999 Montana Medal for her social history 'The Loving Stitch: A History of Knitting and Spinning in New Zealand' (Auckland University Press).

'The Loving Stitch' is Heather's first 'big book', her only other book being a small collection of knitters' techniques published in 1988.

The winners of the 1999 Montana New Zealand Book Awards were announced last night at a gala event in Wellington. The 1999 award winners are:.

Montana Medal for Non-Fiction
'The Loving Stitch: A History of Knitting and Spinning in New Zealand'
Heather Nicholson (Auckland University Press)

Deutz Medal for Fiction
'The Vintner's Luck'
Elizabeth Knox (Victoria University Press)

Fiction Category Runners Up
'Believers to The Bright Coast'
Vincent O'Sullivan (Penguin Books)
'The Lonely Margins of the Sea'
Shonagh Koea (Vintage)

Non-Fiction Category Awards

Poetry
'Seeing You Asked'
Vincent O'Sullivan (Victoria University Press)

History and Biography
'Under the Bridge and Over the Moon'
Kevin Ireland (Vintage)

Environment
'The Natural World of New Zealand'
Gerard Hutching (Penguin)

Lifestyle
'The Loving Stitch'
Heather Nicholson (Auckland University Press)

Illustrative Arts
'100 New Zealand Craft Artists'
Helen Schamroth (Godwit)

New Zealand Society of Authors Best First Books Awards

Hubert Church Best First Book of Fiction
Alpha Male
William Brandt (Victoria University Press)

Jessie McKay Best First Book of Poetry
'Unfamiliar Legends of the Stars'
Kate Camp (Victoria University Press)

EH McCormick Best First Book of Non-Fiction
'100 New Zealand Craft Artists'
Helen Schamroth (Godwit)

Reader's Choice Award
'The Vintner's Luck'
Elizabeth Knox (Victoria University Press)

AW Reed Lifetime Achievement Award
Lauris Edmond

Best Review Page
Landfall

Reviewer of the Year
Iain Sharp

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