The Buzz Words Short Story Prize

The Buzz Words Short Story Prize is an annual prize awarded to recognise excellence in short story writing for children. The story must be suitable for readers 8 to 11 years. There is a first prize of $1,000 and second $500. The next top three entries will be assessed and edited by the competition sponsor, Dianne Bates.

The two short-listing judges are author Bill Condon, winner of the Prime Minister’s Award for Youth Literature and 6 three times winner of the CBCA Honour Book of the Year, and author Dianne Bates, recipient of the Lady Cutler Award for distinguished services for children’s literature and founder of Buzz Words Magazine. The finalist judge for the competition is Susanne Gervay OAM an international children’s and young adult author, and Regional Advisor heading Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators Australia East & New Zealand.

The word limit is 1,500 words. Entries open on 1 August 2020 and close on 31 October 2020. The fee is $10 per entry payable through PayPal or cheque payable to Di Bates. A long list of twenty will be announced in Buzz Words on 15 November and the winning entries on 1 December 2020. Download the entry form here: http://www.buzzwordsmagazine.com/p/2020- prize.html

New picture book for Sophie Masson

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Congratulations to author Sophie Masson and illustrator Cheryl Orsini on the publication of

Four on the Road

a junior fiction title published in paperback by Christmas Press.

Four friends - who just happen to have wheels. A plan to make a run for it. What could possibly go wrong? From two acclaimed creators comes a lively, funny story of friendship and adventure that will delight young readers.

A great Four on the Run activity pack for families, schools and libraries is available for free download on the United Publishers of Armidale website.

You can also view the virtual book launch!

Bravo to Sophie and Cheryl - this title is bound to take off!