Damien Wilkins has written over a dozen books for adults, including novels, short story collections, and poetry, and this month he releases his first novel for young adults, Aspiring (Annual Ink). Aspiring is set in a town in Central Otago…
Three years ago, give or take, Jane Arthur and Sarah Forster dreamed up The Sapling. One of the first stories on an early schedule of content was this: Jane’s books of her childhood. I am sure you will agree that…
Catherine Robertson reflects on her early years from a literary angle, focusing on the intrinsic connection between her memories of books and memories of her mother. Catherine’s latest novel What You Wish For is out now from Black Swan. My…
Don McGlashan’s love of words and ideas is evident in all his music. Today he tells us about throwing a picture book at the wall, wagging school for novel-reading, and the other ways books have formed him as a reader…
Writer Gem Wilder took her daughter to the School Strike 4 Climate on Friday, which reminded her of the first book she read in which non-violent protest was encouraged: Big Daddy Protests!. This book was one of a series of…
Author Swapna Haddow has recently moved to Christchurch from her home in the UK. Her Dave Pigeon books are absolutely hilarious, so we asked her to tell us a bit about the funny books of her childhood. From Sweet Valley,…
Claire Murdoch is the recently appointed Publishing Manager of Penguin Random House New Zealand. We asked her to share some formative books from her childhood, and she handed us a stunning essay on reading, friendship, imagination, and growing up in…
Kate Duignan recalls two influential books from her childhood, Heidi and The Diddakoi, in this stunning personal essay about the importance of a child’s sense of home. Kate’s new novel for adults, The New Ships, is out now from Victoria…
Bonnie Etherington, author of the multi-award-nominated novel The Earth Cries Out, reminisces about the stories and books from her childhood, how they connected her to New Zealand from West Papua, and considers language’s ability to give voice and pass on…
Hawkes Bay writer and librarian Kura Rutherford reflects on her life-less-ordinary childhood and the importance of finding the familiar in books. ‘A wagon track ran before the house, turning and twisting out of sight in the woods where the animals…