Awa Press - News & Events
Gillian Turner - Science Express!Gillian Turner, author of the magnetically gripping new book North Pole, South Pole will be at Te Papa on Thursday July 1st to reveal the mysteries of Earth's magnetism with a "Science Express" event.
6:30-8:00 PM and entry is free! Visit the Te Papa website for more details on Science Express.
New Zealand Music Month is coming!
To celebrate the launch of New Zealand Music Month, Nick Bollinger and Dave Dobbyn will be make special guest appearances at Mighty Mighty on Wellington's Cuba Street on May 1 at 6pm (free entry). Nick will also appear Late at the Museum in Auckland on May 6, and at Auckland Central Library on May 13. More details to follow.
Nick Bollinger in Wellington signing books
Nick Bollinger will be in Wellington on Friday the 26th and Saturday the 27th signing copies of his new book 100 Essential New Zealand Albums . Nick will be at Unity bookshop on Friday from 4-5, at Slow Boat Records on Friday from 6-7, and at Real Groovy on Saturday from 12-1. Come buy a copy of the book and get it signed by New Zealand's favorite music guru!
Richard Dawkins announces Science Book of the Year Prize-winner
Congratulations to Rebecca Priestley, winner of the Royal Society's 2009 Science Book of the Year Prize for her acclaimed anthology The Awa Book of New Zealand Science. Judges described the book as 'scientific enchantment: a time machine that takes us into the times, the words, the minds, the passions and the discoveries of New Zealand scientists, and produces thrill after thrill of recognition, surprise and inspiration'. Click here to buy this book.
Travels in Japan a winner
Hamish Beaton has won the Travcom Travel Book of the Year Readers' Choice. Award for Under the Osakan Sun, his superbly written, warm and humorous story of three years he spent teaching English in Japan. The book also won the Highly Commended Award. Order this great read now by clicking on our Travel section! Click here to buy this book.
Congratulations Steve Braunias
Awa Press congratulates Steve Braunias on winning the prestigious 2009 Buddle Findlay Sargeson Fellowship. The award acknowledges Braunias's position as one of New Zealand's leading writers. He is the author of How to Watch a Bird, Roosters I Have Known and Fish of the Week: Selected Columns, all published by Awa Press.
Golf in December
If golf's your thing, don't miss Tom Hyde's fabulous new book 100 Essential New Zealand Golf Holes, which has just arrived in bookstores. It's shaping up to be THE present for golfers this Christmas.
Record sales of new Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge Guide
Author Amy Taylor and publisher Mary Varnham helped Taupo Paper Plus bookstore achieve record sales of Taylor's new Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge Guide at the Expo the day before the November 29 event. This bike ride is officially recognised as one of the world's best, and attracts over 12,000 entrants each year.
"The Amazing World of James Hector" launched
The Amazing World of James Hector was launched with fanfare at Te Papa on November 24. Alex Malahoff, director of GNS Science, who did the honours, described the book as a wonderful read. "Don't buy potboilers for Christmas presents. Give this to your family and friends - a really great book!" he enthused.
Why the Earth moves
Rebecca Priestley, editor of The Awa Book of New Zealand Science, gave a fascinating talk on this subject at the Christchurch Writers Festival in September. Rebecca's next book for Awa Press, 100 Essential New Zealand Landforms, is scheduled for release in 2010.
Roosters He Has Known
Steve Braunias talked about his profiles of famous and infamous New Zealanders, from porn kings to prime ministers, in An Hour With Steve Braunias at Christchurch Writers Festival in September. Awa Press also released Fish of the Week: Selected Columns, the new book by this much-awarded Sunday Star-Times journalist, that month.
Even better in hardback
The new deluxe hardback edition of How To Look at a Painting: hardback edition by Justin Paton is winning admirers. How to Look at a Painting won the Montana Book Award for Contemporary Culture in 2006. Awa Press's best-selling title, it has gone through five reprints to date.
All the scientists in the world
Well, not quite, but a glittering line-up of some of New Zealand's finest scientific brains will be on hand to launch The Awa Book of New Zealand Science at the Paramount Theatre on Thursday, September 18, 5.30-7.30pm. All welcome. Please arrive by 5.45.
How to Look at a Painting to hit TV screens
Justin Paton's engaging guide to art, How to Look at a Painting, is to become a 12-part series on Television New Zealand. Fronted by Paton himself, it will screen on TV1 on Sunday evenings in the first half of 2009. How to Look at a Painting won a 2006 Montana Book Award. A special hardback edition will be released in September 2008.
Montana Awards
Transit of Venus, our exciting collection of essays on the rare astronomical alignment that changed the world, has been shortlisted for a 2008 Montana Book Award. The contributors include historian Anne Salmond, scientists Hamish Campbell, Paul Callaghan and Duncan Steel, astronomer Richard Hall, Maori Studies lecturer Peter Adds and science journalist Marilyn Head. The winner will be announced on July 21.
Three courses of Steve Braunias at Auckland Writers and Readers Festival
May 14: Come and hear Steve Braunias in conversation with Finlay Macdonald at 'An Hour with Steve Braunias', the opening event of the Auckland Writers and Readers Festival (4:30pm, ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre). This event also marks the release of Steve's third book, Roosters I Have Known. Tickets available from www.writersfestival.co.nz.
May 15: Steve Braunias takes part in a discussion with James Griffin and Tapu Misa about life as a columnist, chaired by Linda Burgess. 6:00pm, Lower NZI Room, Aotea Centre. Tickets available from www.writersfestival.co.nz
May 18: Steve Braunias confesses to the most shameful books he has loved in 'Books Left on Buses' (7:00pm, ASB Theatre, Aotea Centre), a panel discussion with Junot Díaz, Sarah Hall, Kate de Goldi, Heather O'Neill and Luke Davies. Tickets available from www.writersfestival.co.nz
Yarns in Barns festival to host a session with Steve Braunias
Steve Braunias will appear at the Yarns in Barns festival at Greytown Town Hall, 3pm, to discuss roosters he has known and other wildlife. For further details contact Hedleys Booksellers on 06 378 2875
Five stars for finance guide
Our new guide to personal finance, "Your Money Personality", has been awarded top five-star rating by Good Returns, an online bookstore specialising in finance and investing. The store's reviewer says: "I highly recommend this title to anyone interested in getting on with achieving their life's ambitions and creating wealth. This little gem just might be all you need to make it happen."
Bestsellerdom for Bird
Steve Braunias's much praised book How to Watch a Bird has hit the Bookscan bestseller list. The book has also received plaudits from leading author James McNeish, who told The Sunday Star-Times that he likes the book so much he's buying another copy to give a friend who needs to be encouraged to watch birds!
New Distributor
As of November 1, Awa Press books are being distributed in New Zealand and Australia through Penguin Group. For more information, contact sales@awapress.com or phone +64 4 385-0740.
Listener accolades
Awa Press is the standout publisher in the Listener picks for The Best Books of 2007.The Listener's reviewers selected How to Watch a Bird by Steve Braunias, How to Catch a Cricket Match by Harry Ricketts and The Transit of Venus - contributors Peter Adds, Paul Callaghan, Hamish Campbell, Richard Hall, Marilyn Head, Anne Salmond and Duncan Steel.