Two queer authors have taken out top honours at this year's Montana Book Awards, both with gay-themed historical novels. Top prize for fiction went to Anna-Marie Jagose for her novel Slow Water, based on the true story of a 19th century romance between a missionary and a sailor. The judges said that "rarely in New Zealand literature have historical research and imaginative writing combined to produce such an unusual, and unusually satisfying work of fiction. Jagose ranks amongst New Zealand's best novelists." Runner-up in the fiction category was Peter Wells with Iridescence, the story of a Londoner banished to Napier as he rebuilds his life in New Zealand, following a scandal at home.
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Wednesday, 28th July 2004 - 12:00pm