I can’t believe it’s been a whole month since I posted. There are reasons however, the most obvious of which is the fact that our lives (all five of us, aged 4 to 40-odd) are in carefully frenzied, quietly mad turmoil. Because in just a few short weeks we’re moving to Sydney. The least palatable is that I've been blocked, blocked – unable, in my Book Month burn-out to even read a proper NZ book.

Hence the signage – after much mulling over, we’ve decided that the LeafSalon torch must be handed on. So come on: who’s up for it? You get a fully working website with a well-known name that’s (we like to think) synonymous with good, controversial literary opinion and chat, lots of potential for advertising should you care to make a spot of dosh on the side, and a jolly good platform for a taunting rant whenever you desire. Obviously the requirements are that you need to be able to blog in helpful and chatty kind of way, and you must love NZ literature. There’ll be a nominal sum to pay, of course – it’s not free! Email me to discuss further.

So – what finally hauled me from my cupboard-clearing frenzy? Last week’s news of the shortlist for the $65,000 Prize in Modern Letters was excellent enough to do it, but I was head-down, bum-up in the worst and biggest storage space in the house. I raised a glass to all of you though (albeit with cobwebs in my hair) – well done, Michele Amas, David Beach, Mary McCallum, Jo Randerson, Anna Sanderson and Louise Wareham Leonard. Two of these I reviewed at the same time a while back, and they remain two of the best books I’ve read this year. Have to wait until March 8 next year to see who gets the cigar.

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A quick de-brief from my Auckland perspective of Montana Poetry day: I must urge you all to check out the winner of the Great NZ Digi-Poem competition which was announced at 'Poetry Central', the AUP/nzepc do last night. If this is one possible future for poetry, I'm all for it. Charlie Ward of Wellington has come up with a glorious visual response to Apirana Taylor's poem Hinemoa's Daughter, itself a poem which is by turns lyrically beautiful and just a bit gut-wrenching, a juxtaposition which is echoed nicely by the typography in Charlie's work. This competition has got to be an annual thing – the mix of graphic design, audio and poetry does it for me. You can see the other four finalists' work here.

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5.45pm and I'm racing out the door to various deeply glamorous poetry events, I suddenly realise LeafSalon languishes unenlightened – but of course, you all know by now: the winner of the poetry category of the 2007 Montana New Zealand Book Awards is one of NZ’s greatest writers – three years after her death: Janet Frame for her collection, The Goose Bath. Go the great Bill Manhire, for bringing us this. And Airini Beautrais has won the NZSA Jessie McKay Best First Book for Poetry for her beautiful collection of poetry, Secret Heart. Big ups to Airini – that bunch of work is superb.

I’m heading off to Poetry Central at Auckland Central Library from 6-8pm where they’ll be launching two fantastic books of poetry, having readings by lots of yummy poets and announcing the winner of the Great Digi-Poem contest. Hopefully I’ll round off the evening at the Auckland Art Gallery with the Divine Muses from 7-9.30pm. And then who knows… well I do actually: dinner at the French Café for a friend’s birthday. But then who knows? Tra-la-la! Bye…

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I’ve just read Damien Wilkins’ new book For Everyone Concerned and other stories, (VUP, $30). These little stories (some of them are just a page or two, one only two lines) are like a box of chocolates, to risk a Forrest Gump metaphor.

Each one is a meticulously crafted, luminous gem that shows a hawk-eyed passion for human foibles and failings – they make me think of Nabokov. They often feature some of the most irritating of people that cross our paths – a pernickety (but frightened, tender, hilarious) father, the possessive, snippy girlfriend of a brother. The father stories (and there are several) only use conversation – conversation that is so cleverly written as to create a picture in your mind of the two that is almost all-encompassing.

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Here’s one of my ‘shameless promoting of afriend’s book – because I can’ posts. One of my oldest mates, Ms Hilary Ord has added to her many talents by writing the text for a new photography book, I Do (Random House, $24.99), which is to be launched this week. It’s a gorgeous, schmaltzy, romantic wedding book – with a difference.

The photography has been done by legendary father and son team Frank and Florian Habicht. Frank is a Hamburg-born photographer who spent several decades working in London, Paris and Berlin, and has a huge international reputation. He’s featured in Die Welt, Esquire, The British Journal of Photography and The Guardian and has also been a stills photographer on films, working with the likes of Roman Polanski, Jules Dassin and Bryan Forbes. No happy snapper, then.

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The NZ Electronic Poetry Centre, in association with Auckland University Press, are having NZ’s first ever Digi-Poem competition. Six works by NZ poets have been selected from their new book and CD Contemporary New Zealand Poets in Performance, edited by Jack Ross and Jan Kemp – you may choose one or more of these to do wild things with on-screen. Choose from such recent luminaries as Bill Manhire, Bob Orr, Vivienne Plumb, Apirana Taylor, Ian Wedde and Fiona Farrell (whose latest book The Pop-Up Book of Invasions we’ve dipped into deliciously, it’ll be reviewed by our new poetry reviewer soon). A tempting array, as I’m sure you’ll agree.

The first AUP book was Classic New Zealand Poets in Performance, which sold out its first print run last year in a ridiculously short time, and managed to get people listening to poetry as well as reading it. NZEPC wants the experiences in the new book to be further extended by actually watching the poetry come alive on screen as well. (Next up: tasting? Scratch and sniff? Whilst wearing angora/rubber? Whatever blows your skirt up I guess. Poetry as full sensory experience, why not? Spend Montana Poetry Day in the privacy of your own home... or not?)

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As promised, we have Paula Morris on LeafSalon in an online interview. She’s spending a couple of weeks at the Michael King centre in Devonport working on some short stories, and reading for a Penguin anthology she’s editing. There are some pictures of the view up on her blog.

Paula’s latest book out, Trendy But Casual (Penguin, $28), is one that lots of you have probably already read. It damn well kept me up till all hours laughing long and loud, getting elbowed by my husband and being completely knackered the next day. I won’t review it here, it’s been done, but suffice to say, if you want a good laugh that makes you work a bit; a main character who’s impeccably attired, without being afraid to get really good and grungy when necessary, get this book. Meanwhile, let’s get back to Paula, a woman with a history, who’s chosen to live in a most interesting part of the world.

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There are a couple of NZ awards shortlists that have come out in the last week: the Spectrum Book Awards and of course, the Montanas. I’m not going to list the whole lot, just give you the links I’m afraid. The Spectrums have been ably covered by the Book Council here, and as for the Montanas, have a look at the Booksellers website.

The Spectrums – surely Sarah Maxey’s due for some kind of major recognition for consistently supplying jaw-droppingly beautiful books for our shelves. And Neil Pardington, same-same. Nick Turzynski is also making a bit of a name for himself, with the sublime Landscape Paintings of NZ and Farm up for awards (both Random House). He's one to watch, as is Sharon Grace.

The Montanas – there’s much ado about Janet Frame being a deceased finalist for Goose Bath, which I'm not sure is entirely seemly. I feel for all the new, alive poets, what chance will they have if this kind of phoenix rises from the ashes… But after all, what’s good for the goose is good for the gander – Nigel Cox’s book sure as hell needs to be in there and although it’s still hard to believe he’s no longer with us, just hearing Cowboy Dog announced at the awards this year will be a victory of sorts. He’ll up against it with Lloyd and Damien, but who knows.

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Hooray, huzzah and yippee - LeafSalon extends its heartiest and most excitable congratulations to Lloyd Jones, whose wonderful book Mister Pip has just been announced as the overall winner of the Commonwealth Writers Prize.

Lloyd is in Jamaica where the £10,000 award was handed over on last night. You can see a picture of him with some of the other regional winners (rather scratchy I'm afraid) in the Jamaica Gleaner, here.

Lloyd will also of course be heading to London in July (on his way to take up his residency in Berlin) – as the Best Book winner he is invited for an audience with The Queen. Blimey eh?

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The profile of poetry in NZ has just received a major boost in the 2007 Budget. Judith Tizard, the Minister Responsible for the National Library, has announced a New Zealand Poet Laureate Award to recognise writers who have made an outstanding contribution to New Zealand poetry!

Hooray we screamed, and no doubt our somewhat emotional response will be echoed by many of you (witness the comments attached to my report of the Montana Awards last year), the gist of which was, never say never, but if Bill Manhire’s Lifted didn’t get the Deutz Medal last year, it’s hard to imagine that any poetry would. Pretty tragic, but it's good that the extraordinary poetry we put out in this country will now get it’s very own, government-funded parade.

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Our humblest apologies for such a despicable no-show over the last few weeks. What happened? Too much, that's what. Simply trying to do tooooo much. There have been murmers of LeafSalon dropping off the twig but no! We’re going nowhere – we’ll just have to ask you nicely be a little patient from time to time that’s all. Now – a little less conversation, a little more action, as The King liked to say.

Lots going on out there: where to start. A good place would be the fact that the voting has begun on NZ Book Month – who will be the Readers Choice for The Six Pack 2007? This new annual anthology of NZ writing enjoyed its inaugural publication last year and this year the judges were deluged with double the entries. It’s now down to 15 finalists, excerpts of which are online for a month from today to be read and voted upon. Lots of info there about judges and judging too, subjects which we know are dear to our readers’ hearts… As with last year, the rumour is that there are big names and unknowns too, so have a read and see if you can spot anyone you know. While you’re there, check out some of the latest blogging. Iain Sharp should be considering a career in comedy and LeafSalon contributor Mary McCallum’s latest blog has much food for thought as regards the art of storytelling.

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News just out – the winner of the 2007 Commonwealth Writers’ Prize Best Book Award, South East Asia and South Pacific Region is Mister Pip, by our very own Lloyd Jones. LeafSalon warmly congratulates Mr Jones on a job very well done indeed. The book is a quiet masterpiece, as reviewed here by The Listener. I have read it, loved it, and am still from time to time haunted by it’s quiet beauty, and quiet horror. This man is a very, very good writer and we fervently hope he gets the big one. Equally LeafSalon commiserates with Lloyd’s fellow shortlisted authors Damien Wilkins, James George and Paul Shannon, all of whose books are also superb (yes, I have read them all, but have reviewed only Davey Darling. I am a bad, bad girl, but nevertheless, urge you to read them all too).

We should mention that the Best First Book Award winner was given Andrew O’Connor of Australia, for his book Tuvalu which is about a down-and-out geezer living in Tokyo who becomes captivated by a local Scarlet O’Hara type. The judges said it was ‘a blackly funny, inconclusive and strangely beguiling story of ennui, escape, exile and dreams.’

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A couple of submission requests have landed in LeafSalon’s horribly overflowing in-tray. One is the very juicy Fulbright-Creative New Zealand Pacific Writers Residency which gives an aspiring NZ writer the chance to work for three months on a creative writing project exploring Pacific identity, culture or history at the University of Hawai'i. As well as fulfilling their lifelong desire of becoming adept at longboarding presumably.

Valued at NZ$30,000, the residency has previously been held by Sima Urale, Victor Rodger and Tusiata Avia (who, incidentally, is doing her celebrated one-woman show ‘Wild Dogs Under My Skirt’ as part of AK07 this Thursday and Friday in Devonport, Auckland – be quick, there may be some tix left here). For more information on the residency visit the site or contact Anton Carter, Pacific Islands Arts Adviser at Creative New Zealand – tel 04-498 0729, email antonc@creativenz.govt.nz.

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Here's a snippet from Maggie Rainey-Smith in Wellington about Chris Else's new book - we received it a week or so ago but also haven't read it yet. Hopefully either our Chris or I will be able to review it very soon. Thanks Maggie:

'I was lucky enough to be at the launch of Chris Else’s new novel Black Earth White Bones (Random House, $27.99) on Wednesday evening at Unity in Wellington. For those of you who missed out, it was a veritable who’s who starting with Tilly from Unity. Harriet Allan was down from Auckland representing the publisher. Marilyn Duckworth launched the book and commented that Chris was one of our most intelligent writers. There was Barbara Else (of course), Dame Fiona, Nelson Wattie, Norman Bilbrough, Jane Westaway, Renèe, Sarah Gaitanos, Pat Quinn, Jane Parkin, and possibly many more, so if you are a star, and were there, and I’ve overlooked you, please forgive me.

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The judges have just been announced for the 2007 Montana New Zealand Book Awards. Dr Paul Millar, a senior lecturer in New Zealand literature at Victoria University of Wellington, is joined on the judging panel by the writer David Larsen and the broadcaster Morrin Rout.

Once again, the judges and their advisors are overwhelmingly from academia; only David Larsen (pictured) is likely to be known to the wider reading public. Still, this is one better than last year, when we had Lawrence Jones of the University of Otago as convener, assisted by writer Linda Burgess and publisher Bob Ross.

In the past, the judges and advisors have had a considerably higher profile. In 2002 for example, the convener was Witi Ihimaera. In 2003, the fiction category adviser was Keri Hulme.

This is nothing personal: the judges and advisors are all respected names, and Millar is correctly described as ‘The nation’s JK Baxter expert’ in the press release.

But it does seem to me that the Montanas are increasingly missing a trick. After all, they are supposed to be the most prestigious New Zealand literary awards, with the Prime Minister being wheeled out on the night. We have an extraordinary pool of literary talent in New Zealand, and this talent pool is not being used to best effect.

The Montana prize money has not increased over the years, either, despite the appearance of much richer awards and grants in recent times. The winner in each category receives a prize of $5,000; each category winner is eligible for the Montana Medal for non fiction or poetry or fiction, both of which carry a prize of $10,000. In real terms, using a CPI calculator, this is a drop of over 10% since 2002.

At this rate, the Montana's prestige will soon be reliant on nothing more than its 13-year heritage and the presence of our leaderene at the show – which, incidentally, is on Monday 30 July this year.

Something for the Montana management committee to have a think about?

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