Winning wordsmith assists aspiring writers

New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards finalist James Norcliffe helps Dunedin North Intermediate (DNI) pupil Oliver Jones (9) with writing during a visit to the school yesterday.

It was one of the Imaginative Writing Workshops being held at DNI, Tahuna Normal Intermediate and Balclutha Public Library.

Mr Norcliffe, of Christchurch, is the award-winning author of several fantasy novels for young readers, including The Loblolly Boy and the Sorcerer, which is among 20 children's books by New Zealand writers and illustrators in the finals of the awards.

Winners will be announced next Wednesday.