Historical fiction with time travel
I was born in Fiji. My dad was a mechanic with the Royal New Zealand
Air Force in Suva, and my mother was a correspondence school teacher. Sadly, I don’t remember Fiji – my earliest memories are of England. I arrived here in Aotearoa at age five, just in time to start school.
I love the English countryside, but my heart is here in the rugged beauty of this country. New Zealand landscapes are the settings for my books, and New Zealand history inspires my stories.
As a child I lived in Whanganui, Dunedin and Levin, ending up in South Auckland, where I went to Hillary College in Ōtara. I went to Auckland University, then worked in insurance. While raising a young family, I worked part-time as a note-taker for deaf tertiary students, and as a potter with my own studio. I now live in Northland, and run a small orchard with my husband. The work of maintaining an orchard is ongoing but seasonal, and I have the peace and freedom to write in a secluded rural environment.
I have always loved children’s books, and still read them. There is a vibrancy and freshness to children’s books, and a depth which resonates with readers of all ages. When I was young, all the children’s books seemed to be British, and I never questioned that.
But I was delighted at probably age 10 to discover New Zealand children’s books. The first I read was The Happy Summer, by Alistair Campbell. It had a completely different feel – very New Zealand.
Changes in children’s literature include the rise of self-publishing and the new focus areas with complex and diverse issues. Authors get to tackle tough topics and themes, and present different, nuanced perspectives, speaking to the complexities of today’s world. This is an opportunity for authors to affirm and include all children in an age-appropriate way.
My own family stories, told by my parents and grandparents, directly influenced my first two books.
Holding The Horse, about a boy determined to become a famous jockey, explores war trauma, the social divide between rich and poor, and deafness. The sequel, Like The Wind, deals with trauma and identity, and the role horses can play in healing emotional wounds.
My new historical novel The Secret Staircase is set in Kororāreka/Russell in 1845, a tumultuous time in the country’s history. To show this through the eyes of a child gives the events of this time a unique point of view, and by making it a time-travel novel, today’s children experience history as it happens.
Although writing is a solitary occupation, there is a lot of support for new writers in Aotearoa. Storylines NZ, an advocate for New Zealand children’s books, has helped me enormously. A group of author friends provides feedback and community.
Moments of recognition are a boost – whether they come from an organisation like the Arts Foundation or from a young reader who tells me, “You’re my favourite author!”
Being the inaugural recipient of the Lynley Dodd Children’s Writers Award is a huge affirmation and honour, and will be life-changing for me. I am grateful for all the support and encouragement I’ve had so far, and look forward to writing more books.