Ken Catran, writer of nearly 30 acclaimed novels for children and young adults, is the 2007 winner of the Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal.

The award is given annually by the Storylines Children's Literature Charitable Trust to acknowledge a distinguished contribution to New Zealand children's literature.Ken Catran, writer of nearly 30 acclaimed novels for children and young adults, is the 2007 winner of the Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal.

The award is given annually by the Storylines Children's Literature Charitable Trust to acknowledge a distinguished contribution to New Zealand children's literature.Ken Catran is also the 2007 Waikato University / Creative New Zealand writer in residence.

Creative New Zealand and the University of Waikato established the residency, worth $45,000, to provide a full-time opportunity for writers to work in an academic environment, in order to foster New Zealand writing. Past writers-in-residence include Michael King, Maurice Shadbolt, Peter Wells and Tessa Duder.

Storylines Trust Chairperson Libby Limbrick said Ken Catran will join a stellar list of Margaret Mahy Medal winners since 1991.

"We are delighted that this major award coincides with his taking up his appointment as the University of Waikato's 2007 writer in residence," said Libby Limbrick.

Ken Catran will receive the Margaret Mahy medal and deliver the associated Margaret Mahy Lecture at the annual Storylines Margaret Mahy Day, to be held in Auckland on Saturday 31 March.

Previous winners of the Margaret Mahy Award have included writers Joy Cowley, Dorothy Butler, Elsie Locke and Maurice Gee, illustrators Lynley Dodd, Gavin Bishop and Robyn Belton and publisher Ann Mallinson.