The Author's Tale: Recent Episodes
Stephanie Frewen
Casual conversations with prominent and influential New Zealand Authors.
How did they become a writer, what inspires them, influences them and where does their writing journey take them next?
The first series features Canterbury authors Kathleen Gallagher, Gavin Bishop and James Norcliffe.
Presented and Produced by Stephanie Frewen, made with assistance from the Christchurch City Council and Creative Communities Scheme
The final part of my cracking chat with Heather McQuillan. An absolute wordstar! We talk about her delightful children's book Avis and the Promise of Dragons, it's sequel Avis and the Call of the Kraken, her time spent in Dunedin as a writer in residence at the University of Otago College of Education, and I learn more about the trials and wins of publishing.
Brought to you by Edition Audiobooks www.editionaudiobooks.com
Heather McQuillan www.heathermcquillanwriter.com
Buy a copy of her books Avis and the Promise of Dragons, Avis and the Call of the Kraken - https://thecubapress.nz/shop/avis-and-the-call-of-the-kraken/
University of Otago Writer in Residence
https://www.otago.ac.nz/humanities/about/otago-fellows/writer-in-residence#:~:text=The%20residency%20is%20open%20to,an%20office%20within%20the%20College.
Write On The School For Young Writers - https://www.schoolforyoungwriters.org
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Another fabulous part of my chat with Heather McQuillan. This is a MUST LISTEN to episode for all who love flash fiction, would like to learn how to do it, or simply those who love listening to a great author talk about how they work.
We focus on her book 'Where Ocean's Meet' - full of flash fictions.
Want to know more about Heather or want to purchase a copy of her books go to: www.heathermcquillanwriter.com or for Where Ocean's Meet outside in particular , outside of NZ, go to the publisher's website if based out of NZ www.reflex.press
Review of Where Ocean's Meet can be read at https://www.literaryheist.com
Brought to you by Edition Audiobooks, helping you bring your book to life - www.editionaudiobooks.com
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This is Part Two of my casual chat with the fabulous writer Heather McQuillan who's mastery of words covers writing for children, young adults, short story and flash fiction. In this episode we focus on her dystopian young adult novel 'Nest of Lies' and how to decide what's appropriate or not for a younger reader.
Find out more about Heather at her website www.heathermcquillanwriter.com
Brought to you by Edition Audiobooks, helping you bring your book to life - www.editionaudiobooks.com
Presenter: Stephanie Frewen
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This is the first part of my wonderful chat with Heather McQuillan, another award winning Christchurch based author. The passion she has for her readers is so apparent and her move from - as she calls it - "as teacher who writes to a writer who teaches" is true in every sense of the words.
We discuss the origins of her journey as a writer and her first novel - Mind Over Matter, published in 2005 by Scholastic.
Find out more about Heather at her website: https://www.heathermcquillanwriter.com
Brought to you by Edition Audiobooks - www.editionaudiobooks.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
This final part of my discussion with Helen Lowe reinforces my belief that the fantasy writer is a master of words and worlds. We discuss what it takes to keep on track when writing, who has influenced her and how she's going to go forward. I'd like to thank Helen for using some of her precious writing time chatting with me in a chilly meeting room of a public library on a very stormy day. It was an absolute pleasure and I'm really looking forward to the publication of her fourth book in her Wall of Night Series!
You can find out more about Helen at www.helenlowe.info
Other authors discussed in this series are: JRR Tolkienn, Kate De Goldi, Patricia McKillip, Bernadette Hall, and Ursula K. Le Guin
Proudly brought to you by Edition Audiobooks www.editionaudiobooks.com
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Listen in on the third part of my wonderful conversation with the fabulous fantasy writer Helen Lowe. In this episode we discuss her first novel Heir of Night which is also the first book in her Wall of Night Series. We discuss the importance of names - people and place - and the fun that a writer can have with language and how you never know where your characters will take you.
Other writers mentioned in this episode are: Patricia McKillip - (The Riddle Master of He'd 1976); Kate De Goldi; Bernadette Hall (Angel Fish)
Find out more about Helen Lowe at www.helenlowe@info
This programme is brought to you by Edition Audiobooks - www.editionaudiobooks.com
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We hear the second part of fantasy writer Helen Lowe's tale. Moving on from her poetry we discuss her first novel Thornspell, the difficulties of being published, and just what a difference it can make having an agent who sees your potential and gets you in front of the right people.
Find out more about Helen Lowe at www.helenlowe.info
Reading of Thornspell by Elliott Grey
Kindly brought to you by Edition Audiobooks, working with you to bring your book to life. www.editionaudiobooks.com
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We start Season Two talking to an amazing fantasy writer - Helen Lowe. In this episode we talk mythology, and poetry, Helen reads for us her poems From the Hill, The Wayfarer and The Sparrows which was read by a past Prime Minister of New Zealand, Dame Jacinda Adern at a memorial for victims of the Christchurch Earthquake.
You can find out more about Helen at her website: www.helenlowe.info
The Authors Tale is brought to you by Edition Audiobooks - working with authors and publishers to bring their books to life. Editionaudiobooks.com
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While I'm preparing for season 2 in 2023 I thought I'd share with you an interview done by the New Zealand Society of Authors with NZ based author Philip Temple. You can also listen to other interviews with authors done many years ago at the NZSA website - authors.org.nz
If you wish to contact me, with comments, author suggestions or if you'd like to become a sponsor of the show, you can email me at theauthorstale.nz@yahoo.com
The New Zealand Heritage Book Awards were held at the St Michael and All Angel's Church in Christchurch on the 20th October 2022. In this episode I chat with the winners of the Best Children's Book, David Hill, and the Best Fiction Jenny Pattrick, about their winning books.
David Hill - Coastwatchers
Jenny Pattrick - Harbouring
You can listen to the full ceremony at https://plainsfm.org.nz/Programmes/Details.aspx?PID=348e5cb9-95e8-4c59-b5e6-0eb8bfef29a36d5033296c19 or at the New Zealand Society of Author's website authors.org.nz
If you wish to contact me, with comments, author suggestions or if you'd like to become a sponsor of the show, you can email me at theauthorstale.nz@yahoo.com
The New Zealand Heritage Book Awards were held at the St Michael and All Angel's Church in Christchurch on the 20th October 2022. In this episode I chat with the winners of the Best Poetry Book, Janet Newman, and the Wily Publications Award Winner, Nic Low, about their winning books.
Janet Newman - Unseasoned Campaigner
Nic Low - Uprising
You can listen to the full ceremony at https://plainsfm.org.nz/Programmes/Details.aspx?PID=348e5cb9-95e8-4c59-b5e6-0eb8bfef29a36d5033296c19 or at the New Zealand Society of Author's website authors.org.nz
If you wish to contact me, with comments, author suggestions or if you'd like to become a sponsor of the show, you can email me at theauthorstale.nz@yahoo.com
We take the chance to hear readings from his collection of poetry "Shadowplay"; his children's book "Mallory Mallory Trick or Treat"; an audience favourite 'The True Story of Soap' from Letters to Dr Dee; and a repeat airing of a reading from his YA novel The Assassin of Gleam.
Special thanks to the following publishers:
Proverse Hong Kong for providing the audio of 'At Fossil Gorge' and 'Hamlet Nurses his Beer' from his book Shadowplay.
Otago University Press for permission to air 'The True Story of Soap'
Penguin Random House New Zealand for permission to read an extract from 'Mallory Mallory Trick or Treat'
'Mallory Mallory Trick or Treat' is read by Juliet Grey
'The Assassin of Gleam' is read by Robert Snow
Thanks also to the Christchurch City Council and Creative Communities Scheme.
A bonus episode presenting readings from two of Gavin Bishop's books, that hold a very special place in his heart. The first is from Teddy One Eye - The Autobiography of a Teddy Bear which is part of Gavin's own autobiography; the second is Katarina which tells this true story of his great aunt when she was a young woman travelling from her Maori whanau in the Waikato to live with her husband a Scotsman in the far south of New Zealand.
Special thanks to Penguin Random House the publisher's of both books for permission to make these recordings.
You can get more information about Gavin Bishop from his website gavinbishop.com
'Lisle Stockings' from Teddy One Eye' is read by Robert Snow, and 'Katarina' is read by Zara Ballara
I conclude my discussion with James. We talk about the marketing of 'The Frog Prince', and he offers words of wisdom for the new poet and writer trying to get a break in the New Zealand Market. We also have a reading of his poem 'Five travellers in a small Ford' from his collection of poetry 'Deadpan' published by Otago University Press.
'Five travellers in a small Ford' is read by Drew Noble.
You can find out more about James and his work at jamesnorcliffe.com
I continue my chat with award winning poet and novelist James Norcliffe. We discuss his fabulous fantasy novel for children 'The Loblolly Boy'; the story behind his latest adult novel 'The Frog Prince'; his residency at Randell Cottage; and the pitfalls of multi-publisher agreements.
You can find out more about James and his work at jamesnorcliffe.com
I continue my entertaining discussion with award winning poet and novelist James Norcliffe. For anyone wanting to gain an insight into how to write poetry, or simply to play with words and create a story, James is one to listen to. We touch on his witty and touching poems about everyday life, and then we move on to his novels, in particular fantasy and the award winning The Assassin of Gleam.
You can find out more about James at his webpage: jamesnorcliffe.com
In this episode we discover who influenced the young James to become 'The Poet', where he learnt his craft, how taking his family to China impacted him and the way he views the world.
Find out more about James at jamesnorcliffe.com
James Norcliffe is a multi-award winning poet and novelist who lives on Banks Peninsula, Christchurch, New Zealand. His dry sense of humour and complete honesty about himself and the world makes for wonderful retelling of tales from his life.
In this episode we hear about his early childhood and first attempts at writing.
You can find out more about James at jamesnorcliffe.com
Canterbury Poets Collective https://www.facebook.com/cantypoet/
School for Young Writers https://www.schoolforyoungwriters.org
In this episode we conclude our chat about Gavin's very clever picture book The House that Jack Built ,which deals withthe complexities of British Colonisation in New Zealand. We then move on to his new project on the New Zealand Wars; his wonderful autobiographical novel Teddy One-Eye; and we laugh about the difficulties of dealilng with Hollywood, script writing and agents.
You can find out more about Gavin at gavinbishop.com
Having discovered his family heritage links him to prominent Maori women we discuss their interesting involvement in The New Zealand Wars, and their strong connections to the Anglican Church in New Zealand at the time.
We also hear about his hopes and disappointments of working with agents, the reprint of his book 'The House that Jack Built' which includes an inspired dust jacket - a must see for all! - and what Gavin now thinks is the most important thing to him when he writes his stories.
You can see an amazing photo of Irihapeti Te Paea at the National Library of New Zealand.
https://natlib.govt.nz/records/22891728?search%5Bi%5D%5Bname_authority_id%5D=-94018&search%5Bpath%5D=items
More information about Gavin Bishop can be found at his website gavinbishop.com
You can purchase and enquire about some of the books we discuss including 'Katarina' at Penquin Random House New Zealand https://www.penguin.co.nz/search?q=gavin+bishop
and 'The House that Jack Built' at Gecko Press at Gecko Press https://geckopress.com/?s=gavin+bishop
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Continuing my discussion with award winning children's book author and illustrator Gavin Bishop as we follow the hard work behind Mrs McGinty and the Bizarre Plant. Gavin also takes us on a journey of discovery as he unearths the story behind his Maori heritage and the fabulous family members he discovered.
You can find out more about Gavin at his website gavinbishop.com .
If you haven't listened to parts 1 and 2 of Gavin's tale, and you're an author/illustrator or would like to be - I recommend you listen to those first.
In this episode we pick up where we left off last time and hear about how a simple question can change your life. We also hear the story of how difficult it was for Gavin to get his first book published, how determination and looking beyond the square and the faith of his first publisher at Oxford University Press was what got him on the shelves. We talk about his books 'Bidibidi' and 'Mrs McGinty and the Bizarre Plant'.
You can see Gavin reading Mrs McGinty and the Bizarre Plant at: https://youtu.be/xR3IXCwsFBE
Go to gavinbishop.com for more information about Gavin and his work.
In this episode we hear about Gavin's time as a high school student in Invercargill and later as a student of fine arts at the Unversity of Canterbury. He talks about being taught by some renowned artists including Trevor Moffitt, Rudolph Gopas, Bill (William) Sutton and Russell Clark, and their enduring influence on his work still today. For the up and coming artist or writer he provides wonderful insights and hints and tips for success.
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In this first part of New Zealand children's book illustrator and author Gavin Bishop's tale, we hear about his early childhood in Kingston and how he was inspired by the landscapes of a visiting sign-writer. Gavin reads from his autobiography 'Piano Rock', and shares some culinary tales.
Go to Gavin's website, gavinbishop.com for more information about his work.
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Continuing my casual chat with Christchurch author Kathleen Gallagher at her home tucked under the Cashmere Hill.
In this our final episode Kathleen's tale, she reads for us her poem 'Silencing the Hikoi 1998' and her four poems of a war time love story, 'Italy'.
Also we have another reading from her novel Inangahua Gold, read by Zara Ballara.
Her latest film Rohe Koreporepo is having a screening at Lumiere Cinema Christchurch on Sunday July 17 at 4pm.
Tickets can be purchased at: https://lumierecinemas.co.nz/movie/rohe-kreporepo--the-swamp-the-sacred-place
For more information about Kathleen's work, and to purchase her poetry, novels, plays or to stream her films, go to wickcandle.co.nz
Next episode we start to hear children's book illustrator and writer Gavin Bishop's tale. He provides great hints and tips for the would be writer/illustrator and also shares wonderful stories of childhood and his journey to become the acclaimed writer he is today.
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Continuing my casual chat with Christchurch based author Kathleen Gallagher in her home tucked under the Cashmere Hill. In parts 1 and 2 of the Author's Tale we chatted with Kathleen about her plays and films, here in part 3 we talk about her connection to the mountains and how her knowledge of her own history and heritage all come together in her latest novel Inangahua Gold.
Readings from Inangahua Gold are done by Zara Ballara and Drew Noble.
You can find out more about Kathleen's work and obtain copies of her books, plays and films from her website https://www.wickcandle.co.nz
In our first episode we heard about Kathleen's childhood, ancestry and experience in play writing and working in theatre, and I highly recommend you listen to episode one first to give you the background of how Kathleen works.
In this episode we talk about Kathleen's films, radio plays and her connection to the land. We hear snippets from her film Tau Te Mauri, Breath of Peace - it was Kathleen's work on this film that earned her the Sonja Davies Peace Award in 2004, and we also hear from the film Earth Whisperer's, shot by acclaimed cameramen Alun Bolinger and Mike Single. Kathleen's latest film is Rohe Koreporepo: The Swamp the Sacred Place.
You can stream some of her movies from her website https://www.wickcandle.co.nz
A series of casual conversations with prominent New Zealand Authors.
In this episode I chat with Kathleen Gallagher - author of 3 collections of poetry, 17 plays, 2 novels and 9 feature films - in her home tucked into Cashmere Hill in Christchurch. We focus on her early ground-breaking play Mothertongue, how important her family heritage is to her, and how she is 'obedient' to her inner voice telling her to write.
For more details on Kathleen's work and to purchase copies of her books, plays and poetry, or to stream her films, go to: https://www.wickcandle.co.nz
Produced and Presented by Stephanie Frewen
Contact Stephanie at mytaletotellnz@gmail.com