This year’s shortlist for the Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction at the 2024 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards is arguably the strongest in the award’s history. Every one of the finalists has won the fiction category before!

However much readers might have heard about these novels, they often prefer to select and buy or borrow a title from someone who has read it themselves and can talk about it with authority and enthusiasm.

That’s where booksellers and librarians come in. After the great response to our Ockham Champions promotion in the past few years, the awards organisers are on the search again for four passionate booksellers around the motu who are keen to promote and hand-sell the incredible finalists in the Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction. And for the first time, we’re extending the callout to librarians too.

Individuals or a team can nominate themselves as Ockhams Champions. The eight selected champions will be sent a copy of each novel and will be expected to read them and to produce short shareable reviews and photos of themselves with each book that can be used on social media. They will also be tasked with talking these books up online and in their shops or libraries. Previous years’ champions have done an amazing job, sharing creative images and videos, reviewing all the books personally, even interviewing some of the authors.

If you are keen to be involved this year, complete one of the nomination forms below by Friday 22 March or email manager@nzbookawards.org.nz for more information. There are prizes and social media fame up for grabs, and of course reading copies of the four fantastic novels.

Booksellers complete this form: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QL6WMW5

Librarians complete this form: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FQC5LN3

Join us to champion these amazing novels!