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COMMEMORATING LAURA SOLOMON

Susanna Elliffe + Tracy Farr

Free & Koha Writers + Kōrero

Join us to celebrate the two most recent winners of The NZSA Laura Solomon Cuba Press Prize, Patron Saints of Roadkill by Susanna Elliffe and Wonderland by Tracy Farr.

At this free event we will celebrate the publication of Patron Saints of Roadkill by Susanna Elliffe, which won the 2026 NZSA Laura Solomon Cuba Press Prize. Susanna will be joined by Tracy Farr, winner of the 2024 NZSA Laura Solomon Cuba Press Prize for her novel Wonderland, publisher Mary McCallum, and Solomon family members.

The NZSA Laura Solomon Cuba Press Prize honours the creative legacy of the late Laura Solomon, a novelist, playwright and poet who lived in Nelson from 2007 to 2019.

First awarded in 2021, The NZSA Laura Solomon Cuba Press Prize is open to published and unpublished authors who are invited to enter manuscripts written across genres including fiction, creative non-fiction, poetry, drama or children’s writing, which are judged within the criteria set by Laura Solomon, for new writing with a ‘unique and original vision’. The prize is judged by a panel of three made up of one New Zealand literary figure, a representative from the Solomon Family Trust, and one Cuba Press representative.

This free event will be a unique opportunity to hear from two winners of the award and their publisher Mary McCallum from The Cuba Press.

The event takes place in the lead up to entries opening for the 2027 NZSA Laura Solomon Cuba Press Prize in November.

Susanna Elliffe

Susanna Elliffe is a fiction writer based in Ōamaru. She was the 2025 winner of the NZSA Laura Solomon Cuba Press Prize with her debut short story collection Patron Saints of Roadkill, and her short stories have been recognised in national and international competitions including the Sunday Star-Times Short Story Competition, the Bridport Prize, the Hope Prize and the Sargeson Prize. When not writing, Susanna can be found on stage or adding to her collection of degrees.

Tracy Farr

Tracy Farr is a writer who used to be a scientist. Melbourne-born and Perth-raised, she lived in Vancouver before moving to Aotearoa and has lived on Te Motu Kairangi Miramar Peninsula in Wellington for nearly thirty years. Tracy was the winner of the NZSA Laura Solomon Cuba Press Prize 2024 with her third novel, Wonderland, which was longlisted for the Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize 2026. Tracy’s debut The Life and Loves of Lena Gaunt was a finalist for leading Australian awards. She’s co-curator of Bad Diaries Salon and Bad Diaries Podcast. Find her at tracyfarrauthor.com

Mary McCallum

Mary McCallum is a writer and publisher who lives in Wairarapa and Pōneke. Her own published work includes award-winning novel The Blue; a children’s novel, and two poetry collections – her most recent is Tackling the Hens. Mary won the inaugural Caselberg Trust International Poetry Prize and her poem ‘Sycamore Tree’ was selected for Best NZ Poems. She is founder and director of Mākaro Press and The Cuba Press.