After having to cancel my book week events at Kaikorai Primary School due to COVID, I was finally able to visit today to make up for lost time. It was wonderful to be back at the school where my own mancub had been a pupil and to see their brand new hall. I started my day with the Juniors and …
Meet the Fellows at Dunedin Public Art Gallery
The Dunedin Public Art Gallery hosted a Meet the Fellows forum with Nicholas McBryde hosting and inviting the public to ask questions about the Fellows’ work. We spoke about our creative processes and how we hoped our art would engage with the community. With us all at varying stages in our Fellowships (in fact, mine was completed in July), it …
Day of Goodness with SLANZA and National Library
Today, I got to spend my morning with the lovely school librarians in Dunedin as part of their SLANZA and National Library Day of Goodness. My entire love of books and writing started with libraries and kind librarians who put aside Sweet Valley High books knowing I would want to read them first, so it was quite a feat not …
It’s Bad Panda 2 day!
Bad Panda: The Cake Escape is officially out in the world today! Lin the panda is on a mission to find her missing best friend, Fu – but has he been stolen by the boy who was looking to add to his sinister collection of stuffed animals? And can Lin and her zoo friends find him before it’s too late? …
Children’s Writer in Residence: My last month!
It’s my last month of being the University of Otago College of Education Creative New Zealand Children’s Writer in Residence! I have had such a wonderful time and I can’t wait to hear who will be stepping into the role next. Here are my top editing tips for once you have finished that epic first draft: My Children’s Book of …
Second place for Torn Apart!
I’m so thrilled that Torn Apart got the Highly Commended nod of honour at the Historical Association Young Quills Awards 2022. The shortlist was incredible, packed full of authors who are my writing heroes, so it’s wonderful to see this book that is so important to me get acknowledged in this way. Thank you to the judges for taking the …
Workshopping with Otago Literacy Association
Today, I was invited to run two workshops with the Otago Literacy Association. First up were a group of Year 5 and 6 from lots of different primary schools across Dunedin. We created brand new Bad Panda plots and talked about reasons why you might fall in a canal. Next, I got to speak to teachers from around Dunedin. We …
Children’s Writer in Residence: Month 5
It’s June! I’m in my last few months of being the University of Otago College of Education Creative New Zealand Children’s Writer in Residence and here are my top writing exercises for when I’m stuck in a writing rut: My Children’s Book of the Month is: Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun by Tọlá Okogwu.
My Dad is a Grizzly Bear is a winner!
My Dad is a Grizzly Bear has won the Woke Babies Book Awards Picture Book of the Year! I’m so proud of this book and thrilled to see it get the Woke Babies stamp of approval. Thank you so much to the judges and everyone who voted.
A double shortlisting!
I am thrilled to bits to see that Torn Apart has been shortlisted for the incredible Historical Association’s Young Quills Award! This means the world to me as the partition of India rarely features in young historical fiction so I’m so thankful to see Torn Apart feature on this incredible platform. You can have a look at the full shortlist …