OUP titles shortlisted in Ockham Book Awards

Two books published by Otago University Press (OUP) have been shortlisted for the country’s top literary honours.

Established in 1968, the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards celebrate outstanding books by New Zealand authors. This year, Pretty Ugly by Kirsty Gunn and Liar, Liar, Lick, Spit by Emma Neale – both published by OUP in 2024 – have been selected as finalists.

Pretty Ugly

Pretty Ugly, the inaugural title in the Landfall Tauraka Short Story series, is shortlisted for the Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction, the Ockham’s most prestigious award, which includes a $65,000 prize.

Kirsty, who previously won the New Zealand Post Book of the Year award for The Big Music, says, "It’s wonderful to be part of this group of shortlisted writers and to contribute to the conversation about what makes fiction so necessary now."

The judges described her collection as a "masterful display of wordsmithing, with images of triumph brought into sharp focus".

"This accolade is a great validation of the high editorial and production standards of Otago University Press, and – most importantly – a well-deserved celebration of the achievements of these two remarkable authors." – OUP Publisher Sue Wootton

Liar, Liar, Lick, Spit

Liar, Liar, Lick, Spit, Emma's seventh poetry collection, is a finalist for the Mary and Peter Biggs Award for Poetry, which comes with a $12,000 prize.

Emma, a former University of Otago Burns Fellow, expressed her surprise and joy at being shortlisted, noting this is her first poetry collection to receive such recognition.

The judges praised her "word alchemy", which transforms the everyday into "something fine and precious and enduring" and highlighted her precise attention to detail, acute ear for sound, and self-aware literary consciousness.

OUP Publisher Dr Sue Wootton, says the press is enormously proud to have these two "powerful" books receive such high-level recognition.

"This accolade is a great validation of the high editorial and production standards of Otago University Press, and – most importantly – a well-deserved celebration of the achievements of these two remarkable authors.