Winter wins 2022 CLNZ Writers’ Award

Iona Winter has won the NZ$25,000 (A$22,300), Copyright Licensing New Zealand (CLNZ)/New Zealand Society of Authors (NZSA) Writers’ Award for her creative nonfiction project ‘A counter of moons’.

Winter’s work ‘reconsiders and reimagines how we deal with suicide bereavement’, drawing on the author’s own personal and professional experience and weaving together creative nonfiction, memoir and poetry.

Said Winter: ‘In 2020, my only child Reuben suicided. Immediately, I was challenged with how to be visible in my grieving process, alongside his public persona as a musician, because the intensity of suicide bereavement is like no other kind of grief.’

Winter thanked CLNZ ‘for not shying away from the topic of suicide bereavement. Thank you for providing me with an opportunity to create a body of work that speaks to the bereaved, and lends itself to effect positive change within Aotearoa New Zealand.’

Of Winter’s project, selection panel member Gigi Fenster said: ‘”A counter of moons” stands out on both the subject matter and the approach to this subject. The themes explored in this project are urgent and important, and Iona Winter seems to be uniquely placed to explore them. The writing sits firmly within nonfiction, but recognises that this genre has creative elements, and that these creative elements might assist in relating challenging, difficult matters.’

Winter is the author of collections Gaps in the Light, Te Hau Kāika, and then the wind came.

The award is open to writers working in any genre of nonfiction, and enables the winner to devote time to a specific writing project. Funding for the award came from CLNZ’s Cultural Fund, which receives revenue from CLNZ’s licensing activity in New Zealand.

For more information about the award, see the website.

Crisis support services can be reached 24 hours a day: Lifeline 13 11 14; Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636.

Category: Local news