Jane Bissell
Jane specialises in helping others tell their own stories as a mentor, co-writer, and ghostwriter. She also works with those writing in other genres such as fiction, non-fiction, fantasy, romance, crime/thriller and more, as a mentor, editor, and tutor.
Jane is the author of three books, Welcome to the Amazon Club, The Pink Party, and The Golden Pliers: A History of the National Fieldays Fencing Champions 1969 - 2015. She is also the editor of a collection of creative stories written by women living with metastatic breast cancer callled Oysters for Lunch.
Jane's first two books describe her own experience with breast cancer and the journeys of other New Zealand women living with breast cancer. She has worked extensively for breast cancer and cancer-related charities as an administrator, funding application writer, and Blog and web content writer.
Jane lives by the beach on the Hibiscus Coast north of Auckland and works with writers both in workshop format and individually at her writing studio, The Writing Place.
Genre:
- Adult Fiction
- Adult Non-Fiction
- Autobiography / Memoir
- Ghost Writing
- Health
- Non-Fiction
Skills:
- Editing
- Freelance Writing
- Ghost Writing
- Manuscript Assessment
- Mentoring
- Public Speaking
- Readings (adults)
- Tutoring
- Workshops (adults)
Branch:
Auckland
Location:
Whangaparaoa
Publications:
The Pink Party
Jane writes of the joys, fears, and achievements in her own life following her diagnosis of breast cancer and in the lives of two other women, united by the journey they share. The book teaches us about 'life in the moment' - 'the knees-up, hands in the air, champagne-cork-blowing spontaneity of it - and to celebrate every day.'
Welcome to the Amazon Club
This is the story of my first year with breast cancer, from diagnosis to my first 'all clear'. I kept a journal during that time, charting my physical and emotional responses, but also trying to understand what was happening to me. I would like my book to offer the very thing that gets us through the hours and days of a life changing experience ... hope. There is always hope. We all have a remarkable capacity for hope, bravery and strength. Sometimes it takes a traumatic event to make us realise it.
Oysters for Lunch
22 New Zealand women write stories and poems about life with secondary breast cancer. A brave and inspiring collection of creative work, this book offers poignant insights into the dreams, future hopes and everyday challenges of living with cancer and tells that if we want to have oysters for lunch, to have them ... and often.
The Golden Pliers: A history of the National Singles Fencing Champions 1969-2015
The National Farm Fencing Competition held at the annual Fieldays, Mystery Creek, Hamilton, has a rich history of sucess, failure and the rewards of extreme human endeavour. Jane has written the inspirational stories of sixteen past winners of the prestigious 'Golden Pliers' award. These stories offer entertaining stories of commitment, determination and strength, and also provide wonderful snapshots of farming and rural life through the years.