I’m overwhelmed, thrilled, delighted that Wonderland is one of ten books longlisted for the Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction in the 2026 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards. Find the full longlist on the Book Awards website.
Thanks to everyone involved in getting this book out in the world, especially The Cuba Press crew Mary McCallum, Paul Stewart, Siân Robyns. And huge thanks, too, to New Zealand Society of Authors and the Solomon Family, for the 2024 NZSA Laura Solomon Cuba Press Prize awarded to Wonderland – this book really wouldn’t be here without this prize, without Laura.
Covering the longlist announcement, Books Editor at The Spinoff, Claire Mabey, wrote, ‘I’m going to put my money on Wonderland and Empathy making up the final four [fiction shortlist] – it would be a real coup for indie Wellington publishers The Cuba Press and Mākaro.’
The Ockhams finalists (shortlist of four titles in each of four categories) are announced in early March.