The shortlists for the 2021 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards have been announced.
That's four books in four categories -- fiction, poetry, general nonfiction and illustrated nonfiction -- chosen from 40 longlisted titles.
Once again this year, small presses and academic publishers dominate the shortlist, this despite our commercial publishers being responsible for a lion's share of new books.
All but three of the shortlisted titles are by women.
New Zealand Book Awards Trust spokesperson Paula Morris spoke to Susie Ferguson.