She joins four other authors from all over the country writing about issues as wide-ranging as global ethics, living cooperatively, mystical and shamanic practice and Maori healing wisdom.

The Awards' convenor of judges Joan Rosier-Jones says this year's Book Category entrants were particularly strong.

"It was a difficult decision deciding on a shortlist of five from 42 book entries, many from household-name writers.

"This year's finalists were selected for their understanding of the Mind Body Spirit genre, the compelling and accessible way they each convey their stories and their books' excellent production values.

"Each of these books are worthy winners and hold much wisdom for our world," says Ms Rosier-Jones.

Copies of Veil over Light can be ordered from Pleroma Christian Supplies

About the Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust

The Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust was set up following Ashton Wylie's death in 1999.

The Trust's mandate is to have human relationships as its focus; its main intent is to promote more loving relationships.

Wylie was an Auckland businessman and a philanthropist with a wide range of interests, particularly in the area of personal development and positive relationships.

He believed that if one wanted to change the world, one had to first change oneself.

Changes are then made by example as, ultimately, one can change for the better those others who reside within one's sphere of influence.

Source

• Supplied
• Image: AWTC

"Notes to a Friend" is a group of short letters around nine Christian themes and joins four other finalists in the "New mind, body, spirit" category.

Ms Cowley's motivation for writing the book came by way of her conducting retreats.

She noticed that while most people believed in God, few had an understanding of the "church-speak", which was common until recently, in Western society.

"All they brought was a hunger, seeking a map for their journey," Ms Cowley told CathNews.

With her mother being a Brethren and her father from old Scottish Presbyterian heritage, Ms Cowley discovered the Catholic faith through friends, with whom she partied on Saturday nights and then went to Church the next morning.

She admits to being surprised at her positive reaction to her initial Catholic experience.

"It was just in me, it was like coming home", she said.

Quick to point out that she is not a theologian, she said "Notes to a Friend" is her sharing her path.

"If it's meaningful hold onto it, if it's not, let it go," she said.

Keen to reach people with a spiritual hunger without bogging them down with "churchy" language, Ms Cowley groups her thoughts around:

• simplicity
• service
• trials
• courage
• devotion
• discipline
• growth
• healing and
• prayer.

"Readers simply keep returning with requests for more copies for friends and family," said Shirley Duthie of Pleroma Press.

Available locally at all good book stores, "Notes to a Friend" has also gone global and is also available in Amazon's Kindle bookstore.

Ashton Wylie was Auckland businessman and philanthropist with a wide range of interests, particularly in the areas of spirituality, personal development and positive relationships.

Mr Wylie died in 1999.

The $10,000 Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust Book Award is given annually for a book in the mind, body, spirit (New Age) genre. The purpose of the award is to reward excellence for a published book in this genre.

Sources

• Press Release
• Ashton Wylie Trust
• Marist Messenger
• Image: stuff.co.nz