The winner of the largest university award for creative writing in Aotearoa is a first time novelist who hopes this will be the start of an exciting new phase of her creative life.
University of Auckland master of creative writing student Romola Lang is the recipient of the $10,000 Crystal Arts Trust Prize, the richest university writing prize in the country and she couldn't be more delighted… and surprised.
"I remain flabbergasted. It was unexpected. From now on I say that if you have a one in 11 chance of winning a prize you should have the decency to spend some time thinking about who you would thank, which I didn't do at all on the night.
"I really want to thank [Associate Professor] Paula Morris for her extraordinary leadership and for creating such a formidable programme, my cohort for being such generous and gifted writers, the Jubilee Trust for supporting students with disabilities, and Rosetta Allan and the Crystal Arts Trust for this stonking prize. This is an incredible boost both financially and emotionally."
Author and essayist, Paula Morris, the director of the masters programme, says Romola is a very worthy winner of this year's prize.
"Romola's novel is stylish and funny, and a vivid depiction of Dunedin and London in the 80s, in all their scruffy glory. Despite its title-Artless-it's an extremely artful work, revealing her talent, flair and unique point of view."
Romola says just being accepted into programme was a thrill.
"I have always wanted to write, but I could neither justify or find the time and doing the masters meant I had to make time."
The greatest jewel in this prize is the validation it brings, that my tumble of words resonates with people. Because that is what we as artists want to do-connect. I now have the impetus to continue with my novel.
Romola Lang Master of Creative Writing prize winner
She was excited to find herself among such a distinct and talented cohort, although Covid restrictions limited the time the group could spend in the same room and "the magic that happens when a group of people with similar objectives share the air together".
"Covid unfortunately put paid to my dreams of us all lounging about quaffing absinthe and sharing literary bon mots. We managed a few months in the room together at the beginning and end of our year, but otherwise we were Zooming or writing alone."
Artless is Romola's first book, although she's written many of the shows and scripts for productions she's directed and produced over a 35-year career in theatre, film, TV and interactive art.
"Artless is Lisa's story. Dunedin in the eighties is bleak, confining and dispiriting. Lisa's lifeline is music and being part of the nascent Dunedin sound.
"But there is a toxic dismissal of anything home grown so she leaves for London to try and make her way as an artist. She travels from a city with a few stories of its own to a city with too many and is confronted by the people and place. All the while she interrogates value and the transformative power of art."
Thanks to the prize, Romola is now looking forward to finishing the year and spending time next year in Italy working on Artless, and is so grateful for both the financial means and the endorsement of her work it represents.
"The greatest jewel in this prize is the validation it brings, that my tumble of words resonates with people. Because that is what we as artists want to do-connect. I now have the impetus to continue with my novel.
"I'm not sure if people remember the the torch song from the 70s sung by Charlene with the repeating phrase: "I have been to paradise, but I have never been to me." I had already planned on spending time next year in my namesake La Romola, where I've never been, but I wasn't sure how I was going to manage it and now I can."
The Crystal Arts Trust Master of Creative Writing Prize is given to the masters of creative writing student who has completed the highest quality manuscript deemed by the judges to be the most likely to succeed commercially.
It was established in 2021 and is funded by the Crystal Arts Trust, founded by James and masters programme graduate Rosetta Allan to support literature, music and visual art.
