\u201cAn entire generation of children must have grown up beneath his wisdom and the world was a better place for it,” said Whitcoulls\u2019 book manager Joan Mackenzie.<\/p>\n
Popular clinical psychologist and author Nigel Latta has been posthumously recognised at the Aotearoa NZ Book Industry Awards on Saturday night.<\/p>\n
The broadcaster\u2019s last book, Lessons on Living, hit bookshelves just as he died from cancer in October last year.<\/p>\n
The Special Achievement Award was accepted on Latta\u2019s behalf by his wife, Dr Natalie Flynn, who said it was a bittersweet moment, but reminded her of how well-loved Latta was, and still is.<\/p>\n
“I would give almost anything in the world to have him back here and for him to be receiving the award. But, y’know, that is not possible,” she said.<\/p>\n
“It just makes me remember how well-deserved the love was that Nigel had from people when he was alive, and I love that I know he must have felt that, and that the love continues.”<\/p>\n
The clinical psychologist said Latta was humble and she was proud to see his work – that had allowed him to combine two passions – recognised.<\/p>\n
The broadcaster died after a battle with cancer. (Source: 1News)<\/p>\n
“He really just loved writing and he loved helping people and he was so pleased he could put those two things together, it gave him so much joy.”<\/p>\n
Flynn said people still made the effort to tell her how they had benefited from Latta’s books – which have given him huge reach.<\/p>\n
“People just stop me on the street and tell me how Nigel helped them through those really tricky parenting years.<\/p>\n
“Sometimes people from overseas will email and say, ‘Look I couldn’t find any good material where I was and I came across your books and they really helped me’.”<\/p>\n
Flynn said Latta often spoke of the team behind any accomplishment, and said he was grateful to his publisher and book-sellers who got his work into the hands of those who needed it.<\/p>\n
Whitcoulls book manager Joan Mackenzie said Latta helped and supported parents with his books.<\/p>\n
\u201cReaders came back again and again, knowing that his expert guidance could make their lives a little easier, and it made us proud to be the go-between,\u201d Mackenzie said.<\/p>\n
The prize was among 15 presented on Saturday night to booksellers, publishers, authors and book trade stalwarts for their contributions to the industry over the past year.<\/p>\n
Petone-based Schr\u00f6dinger’s Books owner-manager Mary Fawcett accepted the Bookshop of the Year Award for the second time.<\/p>\n
Former prime minister Jacinda Ardern\u2019s memoir, A Different Kind of Power, won bestselling New Zealand title, with more than 70,000 copies sold.<\/p>\n
Other winners included former Ockham Book prize winner Catherine Chidgey\u2019s The Book of Guilt for Booksellers\u2019 Choice Adult Award and chef Al Brown\u2019s Hooked: Learning to Fish for Booksellers Choice Children\u2019s Award.<\/p>\n
The two titles were decided in a vote by the booksellers of Aotearoa as the books they\u2019ll always keep on the shelf and that are considered modern classics.<\/p>\n
Broadcaster Mike McRoberts\u2019 memoir Speaking My Language won the Audiobook of the Year Award.<\/p>\n
Booksellers Aotearoa New Zealand manager Renee Rowland said rising costs and changing reading habits made the last few years tough for the industry, but booksellers punched above their weight.<\/p>\n
The awards were judged by RNZ broadcaster and memoirist Susie Ferguson, NZ Society of Authors director Jenny Nagle, Australian Booksellers Association president and co-owner of Matilda Bookshop Gavin Williams, and The Martinborough Books & Post owner-manager Brenda Channer.<\/p>\n
Full list of winners<\/p>\n
Nigel Latta \u2013 Special Achievement Award<\/p>\n
Petone-based Schr\u00f6dinger’s Books – NielsenIQ Bookdata Bookshop of the Year<\/p>\n
Allen & Unwin – NZ Publisher of the Year<\/p>\n
A Different Kind of Power by Jacinda Ardern – Nielsen BookData NZ Award for the bestselling New Zealand title<\/p>\n
Penguin Random House NZ\u2019s A Different Kind of Power\u2019s launch campaign – Marketing & Publicity Strategy of the Year<\/p>\n
Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand\u2019s sales team – Sales Professional of the Year Award<\/p>\n
The Book of Guilt by Catherine Chidgey – Booksellers\u2019 Choice Adult Award<\/p>\n
Hooked: Learning to Fish by Al Brown – Booksellers Choice Children\u2019s Award<\/p>\n
Alison Shucksmith, publisher at Little Moa (Hachette, Aotearoa New Zealand) – Publishing Trailblazer of the Year Award<\/p>\n
Anastasia George of online retailer The Grimoire – Titlepage Bookselling Trailblazer of the year<\/p>\n
Speaking My Language by Mike McRoberts- Audiobook of the Year Award<\/p>\n
Kevin Chapman – Publishers Association of NZ Lifetime Achievement Award<\/p>\n
Carole Beu of The Women\u2019s Bookshop in Ponsonby – Booksellers Association of Aotearoa New Zealand Lifetime Achievement Awards<\/p>\n
Wendy Tighe-Umbers who is former owner of Time Out in Mt Eden – Booksellers Association of Aotearoa New Zealand Lifetime Achievement Awards<\/p>\n
David Cameron who has owned Scorpio Books in Christchurch for half a century – Booksellers Association of Aotearoa New Zealand Lifetime Achievement Awards<\/p>\n