NZ Society of Authors

This podcast was recorded at the Janet Frame Memorial Lecture, given by the NZSA President of Honour 2024 Barbara Else in November 2024 as part of the Verb Festival, Wellington. The prestigious position of NZSA President of Honour, is bestowed on a senior writer and long-serving member in recognition of their contribution to writing and writers and the literary arts sector in Aotearoa.

Fleur Adcock lived between New Zealand and England for many years. Although Fleur settled in London as a full-time writer in the 1970's, she is still published here and we still regard her as 'one of our own'. Over two episodes we are going to drop into parts of Fleur’s oral history, collected in 2021 by Deborah Shepard - here's part one.

Graeme Lay is the author of more than forty books of fiction and non-fiction, and many many shorter works. He was good friends with most Auckland writers of his generation. Graeme spoke with Kelly Ana Morey in 2021, and they start by talking about the first works of short fiction he had published as a young writer.

In 2016, Marilyn Duckworth won the Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement in Fiction. The award came more than 50 years after she had won the New Zealand Literary Fund Award for Achievement in 1963. Marilyn talks to Deborah Shepard in this episode about her career as an author over those 50 years.

The New Zealand Society of Authors Oral History Podcast is back with our fifth season! We start with two episodes featuring Witi Ihimaera. In this first episode we begin with Witi talking to Deborah Shepard about the writing scene he launched into in 1970's New Zealand. New episodes every 3 weeks.

This podcast was recorded at the Janet Frame Memorial Lecture, given by the NZSA President of Honour 2021-2022, Tessa Duder in May 2022. The prestigious position of NZSA President of Honour, is bestowed on a senior writer and long-serving member in recognition of their contribution to writing and writers and the literary arts sector in Aotearoa. Tessa Duder has been a champion of children’s and young adult writing in Aotearoa for 40 years through many literary organisations, including being a past President of NZSA. She has been widely recognized for her writing and advocacy; Tessa is a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, she has won the Prime Minister’s Award for Literary Achievement, the Katherine Mansfield Menton Fellowship, The Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal, and numerous awards for her books and writing.

In the New Zealand Society of Authors Summer Encore Series, well known NZSA authors introduce you to some of their favourite episodes from the NZSA podcast. This week, James Russell, author of the Dragon Brothers Trilogy and Dragon Defenders series, introduces you to his favourite episode: Philip Temple's oral history conversation with Deborah Shepard discussing his life and work over half a century as a writer in Aotearoa. Learn more about James's books at: https://dragonbrothersbooks.com/ More about Philip Temple at: https://philiptemple.com/ More about NZSA at: authors.org.nz/

Welcome to the New Zealand Society of Authors Summer Encore Series, where we’ve asked well known NZSA authors to introduce you to some of their favourite episodes from the NZSA podcast so far. This week, Rosetta Allan, author of the recently released ‘Crazy Love’ along with several other novels and poetry collections, introduces you to her favourite episode: Paula Morris’ 2020 Janet Frame Memorial Lecture. Learn more about Rosetta and her new book ‘Crazy Love’ at: https://rosettaallan.com/ More about Paula Morris: https://www.paula-morris.com/ More about the Janet Frame Lecture: https://authors.org.nz/janet-frame-lectures/ More about NZSA at: https://authors.org.nz/

Introducing the NZSA Summer Encore Series, where we’ve asked well known NZSA authors to introduce you to some of their favourite episodes from the NZSA podcast so far. This week, Mary-anne Scott, author of the newly released ‘The Tomo’, along with ‘Spearo’, ‘Sticking with Pigs’, and several other books for young people, introduces you to her favourite episode: Joy Cowley from Season 3 of the NZSA Oral History Podcast. Learn more about Mary-anne at: https://maryannescott.com/ More about Joy Cowley at: https://www.joycowley.com/ More about NZSA at: https://authors.org.nz/

As a poet, essayist, biographer and editor, Brian Turner has become one of New Zealand's most significant writers on landscape, the environment and sport. In this episode, Brian and Naomi Arnold have a wide-ranging discussion about Brian's writing, environmental activism, sports connections and work in publishing.

Dunedin-based Barbara Else is a successful New Zealand author who has also run one of Aotearoa’s oldest literary agencies, TFS. She has held fellowships and scholarships throughout her career, was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, and was awarded the Margaret Mahy Medal, both in recognition of her services to literature. In part 1 of her interview, Barbara talks with Naomi Arnold about finding her gift for humour during the writing of her first plays, developing as a writer, the success of her first novel The Warrior Queen and the opportunities which followed.

This episode is part 2 of Naomi Arnold's 2020 oral history interview with Kyle Mewburn. Naomi and Kyle talk about the issues authors face, both on and off the page, and Kyle's time as NZSA president: "I was known for being flippant, because I am flippant, how very observant of these people to notice!". An open look at the life of a NZ writer and author advocate.