Congratulations to Kathryn Van Beek, NZSA Board member who has been announced as the Robbie Burns Fellow at Otago University for 2023.

The Dunedin-based multidisciplinary writer has published a collection of short stories, Pet, authored plays, written and illustrated children’s books, authored television and podcast series, and contributed to news media.

During the Fellowship she will work on a second collection of short stories, Delight.

“I hope to explore dark themes in fresh ways, drawing from the beauty and resilience of the natural world to leave readers with a sense of hope. Flawed human protagonists will share the pages with jewelled geckos, baby hedgehogs and mythical creatures.

“I’m looking forward to meeting the other Fellows, getting to know University staff and students, reading lots, and having ‘no required duties other than to write’. The Fellowship will give me the opportunity to experiment, dream, and play,” she says.