Elspeth Sandys

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Elspeth Sandys

ONZM
Born1940 (age 83–84)
Timaru, New Zealand
OccupationWriter
Alma mater University of Auckland
Trinity College London
Website
elspethsandys.co.nz

Elspeth Somerville Sandys ONZM (born 1940) is a New Zealand author and script writer.

Contents

Background

Born in Timaru in 1940, she grew up in Dunedin. She was adopted by the Alley family and was exposed to literature from a young age by Rewi Alley. She uses the surname Sandys as a pseudonym. [1]

Sandys received an MA (First Class Honours) in English from the University of Auckland, an Associate Diploma (FTCL) in Speech & Drama and a Fellowship Diploma (LTCL) in Music, both from Trinity College London. [2]

Works

Sandys's fiction often focuses on personal, social, and political relationships. While some of her novels are historical fiction their motivating themes remain contemporary. In addition to her published works, Sandys has taught creative writing and worked as an editor at Oxford University Press. [2]

Novels

Short story collections

Poetry

Sandys has had poems and short fiction published in several journals including in: Landfall (multiple pieces including short story 'The Postman', 2012); PEN (UK); [2] New Zealand Listener ; [3] and New Zealand Books Pukapuka Aotearoa. [4]

Non-fiction

With John Man, Sandys has ghostwritten several non-fiction works including The Survival of Jan Little (Penguin Books, 1986). [2]

Sandys has written for both the BBC and Radio New Zealand including original plays and adaptations, and scripts for film and television, with performances taking place in the United Kingdom and New Zealand. [2]

Honours and awards

Her novel, River Lines, was longlisted for the 1996 Orange Prize and her unpublished collection of short stories, Standing in Line, won the Elena Garro Prize in 2003. [2] [1]

In 2005, her play Vagabonds (previously titled Masquerade) was selected for the International Playwriting Festival in London. It was also shortlisted in 2006 in the Columbus State Theatre Playwriting Competition. [5]

In the 2006 New Year Honours, Sandys was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to literature. [6]

Residencies and fellowships

In 1992 Sandys was awarded the Grimshaw Sargeson Fellowship with Gaelyn Gordon. [7] She was awarded the Robert Burns Fellowship, in 1995, a literary residency at the University of Otago in Dunedin, New Zealand. [8] In 2016 she received a residency at the Michael King Writers Centre. [1]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Elspeth Sandys". Read NZ Te Pou Muramura. Retrieved 13 May 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Elspeth Sandys". Academy of New Zealand Literature. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  3. ↑ "Requiem for my Mother, by Elspeth Sandys". The Listener. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  4. ↑ "Elspeth Sandys". New Zealand Books Pukapuka Aotearoa. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  5. ↑ "Elspeth Sandys". MBA Literary Agents. Retrieved 7 November 2017.
  6. ↑ "New Year honours list 2006". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2005. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
  7. ↑ "Grimshaw Sargeson Fellowship". Grimshaw. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  8. ↑ "The Robert Burns Fellowship". Otago Fellows, University of Otago, New Zealand. Archived from the original on 10 February 2013. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
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