Nalini Singh is better known on international best seller lists than in her own country. But all that is changing. The Auckland resident tells Trudi Caffell how it all came about.
Literary agents are a rare breed in New Zealand. Geoff Walker tracks them down in their burrows.
In his new memoir Touchstones President of Honour James McNeish looks back 55 years to the reporters’ room of the NZ Herald and an encounter with the night editor who intrigued him with the image of purple Sicilian cauliflower.
Mentor as Anything – many now successful New Zealand authors can look back on their NZ Authors mentorship as a key step in their writerly development. Joan Rosier-Jones, who got the scheme started in New Zealand, explains how mentees can get their best out of this special relationship.
Metadata? It’s a mysterious, forbidding term. But you’d better grapple with it because the statistics suggest using it properly can greatly increase your sales. Neilson BokScan chief Ka Meechan delves deep in your interests. Just keep up, will you!
The Frankfurt Book Mess – Kyle Mewburn shows the disappointment and frustration at our exclusion of writers and illustrators for Children and Young from the NZ@Frankfurt list.
Arts Board Chair Alan Sorrell believes NZ Authors can do more to build literature’s claims on arts fundings.
Sir James McNeish succeeds Marilyn Duckworth as our President of Honour.
Flash Fiction Day – 22 June.
ARD Fairburn’s biographer Denys Trussell defends a national literary icon against fascist claims.
It seems unlikely that Jenny Argante is the only writer concerned that NZ Book Month seems to have become something of a misnomer.
The latest, and most successful yet, Auckland Writers and Readers Festival seems to Adrian Blackburn almost as much a love fest as a literary one.
Poetry readings, a short story competition, literary workshops and plenty of good cheer mark Auckland Branch’s hosting of the NZSA’s 78th AGM.
Do you write for love, or for money? Multi talented author, playwright, novelist and screenwriter Greg McGee offers the AGM dinner guests a stimulating personal view.
When Jocelyn Watkin set out five years ago on the path of indie publishing many wondered if that was because she had no other choice.
When the chance comes to do a ‘writer’s roadie’ in the deep south, Maria Gill takes fresh inspiration from the natural responses of school children.
Is an addiction to how-to-write books a moral hazard? Trudi Caffell thinks it just might be.
CEO Maggie Tarver reports on the latest National Council Meeting.
Publishers can perform an important function in winnowing out the dross, says Geoff Walker in his new column, Walker at Large.
The Biggest Such Event in the World – the Frankfurt Book Fair will be held in October with NZ as the country of Honour. Richard Webster has cogent advice for writers whose books will be represented there by NZ Authors or who will attend in person.
If Prolific Correspondent Frank Sargeson were alive today would he be using email? Graeme Lay, who has been reading a new volume of selected Sargeson letters, thinks so.
Our President of Honour Marilyn Duckworth led off NZ Book Month in March with a wide-ranging Jane Frame Memorial Lecture from the perspective of half a century involved in NZ literature.
New Zealand and Australian literatures have much in common, but the parallel lines on which they run show little sign of converging. Australian poet Michael Sharkey, who knows more than a little about the literary worlds of both countries, explores the phenomenon, and argues for a bit more hand-holding across the Ditch.
Writers’ centres in New Zealand? Waiata Dawn Davies tracks down centres in Dublin and the Northern Territory and aks, why not?
Can writing solitaries get together to their mutual benefit? Trudi Caffell explores the challenging world of writing groups.
New Zealand-trained Nigel Wade carved out a distinguished journalistic career in the world;s diplomatic hot spots. He looks back on honing his skills as a raw recruit on the NZ Herald in the sunny sixties.
The Treasurer’s Tale – the inimitable Bernard Brown reminisces about 40 years as Treasurer (and treasure) of the Auckland Branch from its inception in 1971.
Writing a branch newsletter – is a responsibility holding both highs and lows. Chrissie Ward of the Top of the South Branch, reports from the (newsletter) frontline.
Who shall review the reviewers? – Six times Montana Reviewer of the Year David Eggleton, Australian-based Hazel Menehira, and co-editor of the quarterly New Zealand Books, Jane Westaway, traverse the internet era challenges and responsibilities facing the oft-criticised people who critically and professionally assess New Zealand writing.
Linley Jones – had two short stories in the top 10 of the 42 entries for Auckland Branch’s inaugural Graeme Lay short story award. We publisher her winning entry: The Bone of Contention.
Canterbury writer Sandra Arnold courageously grappled head-on with the tragic loss of her daughter to cancer. She outlines how the PhD thesis she began work on ended up as a published book, Sing No Sad Songs.
Literature is popular in Latin America to a degree New Zealand writers can only dream of. Poet Ron Riddell makes a plea for much closer links.
The Author – December/January 2012**
Old Frankfurt Book Fair – Richard Webster with practical hints for authors
E-readers surge – Adrian Blackburn seeks experts opinion on the digital environment
A personal view – Ro Cambridge and her Kindle
At the Iowa Writers Workshop – David Hill on authorial freedoms
Former Penguin – Geoff Walker’s advice to non-fiction writers
The grounding – Ian Clarke on the Rena
Commonwealth Best – Craig Cliff with the big names
A rewarding intimacy – Cass Alexander reports on the Whanganui Literary Festival
Successful novelist – James George on teaching creative writing
