Blog

Winners – NorthWrite 2013: Collaboration

Alicia Ponder and I have just won ‘NorthWrite 2013: Collaboration’ contest with our short work Ahi Kā. This competition required writers to work together to produce short fiction written by two authors, comprising either: 2 short stories 2 poems or a poem and a short story. We were placed first equal with another pair of…
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New Zealander of The Year Local Hero Award – Literacy and Community Service efforts

A few weeks ago, I was presented with a Kiwibank New Zealander of the Year Local Hero  Award. These awards are given to kiwis who make a difference in their communities through volunteer work. So what did I do? Over the past seven years, I’ve organised numerous community service projects in my role as Director…
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KurtX’s Got Talent – New Zealand’s Got Talent Semi-final

KurtX rocked the stage at New Zealand’s Got Talent (NZGT) this week in his semi-final performance. KurtX may be the first musician to play harmonica to dubstep – a modern dance music genre that originated in Britain. What’s astounding is that he underwent heart surgery shortly after his NZGT audition to correct a congenital hole…
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I’m published! Baby Teeth launches in Wellington, New Zealand!

Tomorrow night is the pre-Halloween launch of ‘Baby Teeth – Bite-sized Tales of Terror.’ My first published short story, ‘Dad’s Wisdom,’ is in this anthology! Baby Teeth is an odd concept. Inspired by the creepy things that kids say, these horror stories are raising funds for children’s literacy in New Zealand, via Duffy Books in…
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Balancing Writing and Family – When a Mess Hits, Keep Smiling.

We try balancing writing and family, but sometimes life just happens! Our family has been extremely busy in the last few weeks. We had a TV crew filming my husband (see my last post about KurtX on New Zealand’s Got Talent) a massive plumbing leak, and lots of kids’ activities. With four kids, we’re always…
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KurtX rocks New Zealand’s Got Talent! – #Harmonica Hero #NZGT

KurtX played his ‘wee instrument’ last night for New Zealand’s Got Talent, generating a storm of music with his harmonica. He started with a slow haunting lyrical line, but the judges’  faces soon changed as a rock number hit the sound system and KurtX ramped it up, showing us just what can be achieved with…
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Children’s picture book workshop with Ruth Paul

Author-illustrator Ruth Paul taught a children’s picture book workshop at The Children’s Bookshop in Wellington last weekend. I was excited to attend because she’s one of my youngest daughter’s favourite authors and is an inspiring speaker Ruth entertained over 25 participants with advice about writing, illustrating and publishing  picture books in New Zealand and for…
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3 short stories accepted in 1 week!

Wow! I am ecstatic! I’ve just had three short stories accepted in one week – to two different anthologies. At the end of last week two of my short stories were accepted for a fantasy anthology about Te Papa, New Zealand’s national museum. ‘A Wizard in the Works’ is a night-time rollick through the museum.…
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Free Writing Course!

Sign up to Write On! my writing newsletter & get a FREE 3-week FLASH FICTION COURSE by an author who has published over 30 novels and developed a novel writing school. You’ll get the course link, and access to a flash fiction writers’ forum in your first issue of Write On! Since taking this free…
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Au Contraire – Science Fiction and Fantasy Convention in Wellington

The New Zealand National Science Fiction and Fantasy Convention – Au Contraire – took place in Wellington 12-14 July with 200 Sci-fi and fantasy buffs attending. Although I’m not in this photo of the new and old SpecFicNZ committee, my claim to fame is that I took it!  It was amazing to meet many of…
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