The international young writers in Press Service International (PSI) continues to shine – having completed 10 Cycles of 2018, but 2019 will see them spilt into two different Weeks.
As way back as 2012 the PSI young writer program included young writers from overseas (quite apart from New Zealand) and in 2014 there were enough such young writers for them to be established in their own separate week.
The internationals are in Week 1 of each Cycle of the young writer program mainly because it is winter in the northern hemisphere. They kick start each new year as we 'down under' are in the midst of the summer break - it has little effect on the internationals (not being their summer holidays).
In 2019 ‘Week 1’ will consist of 18-30 years olds, and Week 5 will consist of those over 31. These two separate weeks have different coordinator and editors and, wait for it, two separate groups of Panellists for the annual awards.
Internationals - 18-30 yars old
Jason LaLone USA
Cindy Cheng China
Aaron Sabio USA
Ashley Mullins USA
Crytelda Naidoo South Africa
Rume Kpadamrophe - Nigeria
Francesca Tavares - West Indies
Sarren Salmon - West Indies
David Thomas - West Indies
Rebecca Triplett - USA
Tamika Smith - West Indies
Liliana Ferrao - ambique
ASnna Waite - Cambodia
Dat Nguyen - Vietnam
Internationals Over 31s
Sharma Taylor - West Indies
Kandima Awendila - ambique
Rosie Robinson - England
Kali Hendrickson - USA
Josh Robbie - South Africa
Paul Lewis - West Indies
Jennifer Khan - West Indies
Stacy-Ann Smith - West Indies
Basil Sellers Awards
The international young writers are part of the annual awards and have been included since 2015 -
2015 – Joint winners
Genevieve Wilson - Canada
Paul Lewis – West Indies
2016
Andrew Sinclair - Christchurch
2017
Sharma Taylor - West Indies
2018
Jason LaLone and Stacy-Ann Smith – Joint winners
Over 31’s - Kandima Awendila
2019 International Panellists - 18-30 years olds
Vic Matthews - Moruya
Mark Flippance - Adelaide
Darren Lawson - Rockhampton
Sean Spencer - Midge Point
Tim Everton - Adelaide
Over 31 ’s Panellists
Christina Tyson - Wellington NZ
Rex Dale - Melbourne
Ian Aylward - Gladstone
John Yates - Perth
Wayne Walters - Melbourne
The young writer program welcomes additional Australian (18-30) and New Zealand (18-30) enquiries in becoming Australian young writers – info@markt.id.au or timeout@bushorchestra.com 61 (0) 419 917 713.
Dr Mark Tronson is a Baptist minister (retired) who served as the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years (2000 ret) and established Life After Cricket in 2001. He was recognised by the Olympic Ministry Medal in 2009 presented by Carl Lewis Olympian of the Century. He mentors young writers and has written 24 books, and enjoys writing. He is married to Delma, with four adult children and grand-children. Dr Tronson writes a daily article for Christian Today Australia (since 2008) and in November 2016 established Christian Today New Zealand.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html