New Zealand has lost one of its literary benefactors within days of making one of her last endowments. Dianne Beatson, of Palmerston North, died on Sunday night, shortly after NZ Society of Authors selected Dunedin poet, writer and teacher Diane Brown as recipient of the 2014 Beatson Fellowship.

The fellowship, a one month stay at Dianne Beatson’s Foxton Beach residence with a $7000 stipend, has been endowed for 13 years by Peter and Dianne Beatson whose interest in supporting New Zealand writing led them to set up the fellowship in 2001. [Read more…]

Diane has been named a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for services as a writer and educator.

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Dunedin-based poet and novelist Diane Brown plans to use the prizemoney from the 2012 Janet Frame Memorial Award to write a new collection of poetry.

Brown picked up $3000 with the award, announced recently.

The biennial Janet Frame Memorial Award is offered by the New Zealand Society of Authors (NZSA) from a bequest provided by The Janet Frame Literary Trust to help a mid-career or established author further their literary career.

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