Taranaki writer receives national award, mentorship
Taranaki writer Emma Hislop is one of the six recipients of the Arts Foundation Springtime programme.
The award is granted to artists to kickstart their careers and includes a mentorship.
Hislop said receiving $15,000 and being mentored by renowned Kiwi writer Whaea Patricia Grace would allow her some time to work on her first novel.
Hislop had her first book, a collection of short stories called Ruin and Other Stories, published last year.
A few months after, she was selected for an Australia residency in the Blue Mountains National Park.
“The residency was held on Dharug and Gundungurra land and was amazing,” Hislop said.
“I shared a house with three other writers, two Irish writers and a Shanghai writer.”
In February, Ruin and Other Stories was longlisted for the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards – the most prestigious national awards for books.
Her book was not a finalist, but Hislop said she was still excited about being selected in the first place.
“It was a surprise! And exciting to be included with so many heavyweight writers,” she said.
Hislop said she was part of
Te Hā Taranaki, a group of writers that included Steph Matuku, Cassie Hart and Airana Ngarewa.
She said she was not a full-time
“It was a surprise! And exciting to be included with so many heavyweight writers.” Emma Hislop
writer and juggled a few freelance projects at the same time.
“I try and write for an hour a day, then I’m working as a freelancer on lots of different, short-term projects. Like all writers, I have to keep money coming in,” Hislop said.
Hislop said she was grateful for the award and was looking forward to working with her mentor on her first novel, which was set in an art gallery.