James Norcliffe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James Norcliffe
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Norcliffe in 2008
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| Born | James Samuel Norcliffe 3 March 1946 Greymouth, New Zealand |
| Occupation | Writer |
James Samuel Norcliffe (born 3 March 1946) is a writer from New Zealand. He writes novels, short stories, and poems. He has also worked as an editor and a teacher. Many of his books have won awards or been nominated for them. For example, his book The Loblolly Boy won the New Zealand Post Junior Fiction Award in 2010. James Norcliffe lives in Church Bay, near Lyttelton Harbour, New Zealand.
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About James Norcliffe
James Norcliffe was born in Greymouth, New Zealand, on 3 March 1946. When he was a child, he loved reading classic adventure stories. Some of his favorite books included Coral Island, Treasure Island, and Wind in the Willows. He also enjoyed the Just William and Bunter books.
His Work as a Writer and Editor
James Norcliffe is a teacher, writer, and editor. He has published many collections of poetry. He has also written several novels for children and young adults. His stories and poems have appeared in magazines and journals in New Zealand and other countries.
He has edited poetry and short stories for takahē magazine. He was also the poetry editor for the Christchurch Press newspaper. James Norcliffe has worked closely with the Christchurch School for Young Writers. He helped edit their yearly Re-Draft books, which feature writing by young people.
After the 2010 Canterbury Earthquake and other quakes, he helped collect poems about the events. With Joanna Preston, he edited a book called Leaving the Red Zone. This book included 148 poems by 87 poets from all over New Zealand.
Festivals and Travel
James Norcliffe has attended many book events and festivals. He has been to the Queensland Poetry Festival in Australia. He also went to the International Poetry Festival in Medellin, Colombia. In 2011, he visited the Trois Rivieres International Poetry Festival in Quebec, Canada. He has also been part of the WORD Christchurch Festival.
He has lived in or near Christchurch for most of his life. However, he spent time living in China in the 1980s. He also lived in Brunei Darussalam in the 1990s. James Norcliffe is married and has two children. He lives with his wife in Church Bay, near Lyttelton Harbour.
Awards and Recognition
Many of James Norcliffe's books have been recognized with awards. Some have been named Storylines Notable Books. This means they are considered excellent books for children.
Book Awards
- His book The Assassin of Gleam won the Sir Julius Vogel Award in 2006. This award is for the best fantasy novel from New Zealand. It was also nominated for the Esther Glen Medal in 2007.
- The Loblolly Boy won the 2010 NZ Post Junior Fiction Award. It was also nominated for the Esther Glen Medal and the Sir Julius Vogel Science Fiction Award.
Other Awards
James Norcliffe won the Lilian Ida Smith Award in 1990. He also won the New Zealand Poetry Society's international competition in 1992. In 2003, he and Bernadette Hall received a special award from the Christchurch Press. This award was for their long-lasting contributions to literature in the South Island of New Zealand.
Writing Residencies
Writers sometimes get special opportunities called residencies. These allow them to live in a certain place and focus on their writing.
- In 2000, James Norcliffe was awarded the Robert Burns Fellowship at the University of Otago.
- In 2006, he took part in the Creative New Zealand Iowa University Fellowship. He also joined the Tasmanian Writers' Island of Residencies program.
- He was a Visiting Artist at Massey University in 2008.
- In 2012, he was the University of Otago College of Education / Creative New Zealand Children's Writer in Residence. During this time, he wrote his children's novel Felix and the Red Rats.
- In 2018, he was the Creative New Zealand Randell Cottage Writing Fellow.
In 2022, he received the Prime Minister's Award for Literary Achievement in Poetry. This is a very important award for poets in New Zealand. In 2023, he won the Margaret Mahy Medal. This medal celebrates a person's outstanding contribution to children's literature in New Zealand.
