Podcasts and Video
Rebecca K Reilly, author of Greta & Valdin, speaks with Claire Mabey about how she wrote one of the best novels of 2021.
Pip Adam talks to Sinead Overbye about her astonishingly original novel, Nothing to See, at Verb Writers Festival 2020.
Lil O’Brien talks about her memoir, Not That I’d Kiss A Girl, with Emily Writes, at Verb Writers Festival 2020.
Murdoch Stephens talked with Behrouz Boochani (No Friend but the Mountains) about how the events of 2020 have impacted on him and on his craft as a writer.
Brannavan Gnanalingam talks with James Nokise about ‘Sprigs’, Brannavan’s powerful novel about toxic masculinity, racism and much more.
One of Aotearoa’s greatest poets, Bill Manhire, talks with Kim Hill (RNZ) about his latest collection, Wow, at Verb Writers Festival 2020.
Sixteen-year old Dara McAnulty talks to Paula Stanly Ward about his award-winning memoir, Diary of a Young Naturalist. Dara beamed in from Northern Ireland for Verb Writers Festival 2020.
Wellingtonian Novelists Murdoch Stephens (Rat King Landlord), Pip Adam (Nothing to See) and Brannavan Gnanalingam (Sprigs) talk to fellow writer, Elizabeth Knox (The Absolute Book), about the City of Wellington as a literary character, setting and inspiration. A live recording of a Verb Writers & Readers Festival 2020.
Chef Monique Fiso’s sumptuous book Hiakai: Modern Māori Cuisine celebrates Kai Māori and the skill, inventiveness and style that has made Monique Fiso a star of Aotearoa’s contemporary food culture. Join Monique and Arihia Latham for a delicious discussion.
Annabel Langbein, much-loved chef and author of Bella: My Life in Food, talks to Beth Brash about her adventurous life.
Essays
A moving personal essay by Nicola Brown, commissioned by Ōtepoti Writers Lab. Contains description of sudden death, please proceed with care.
A fascinating Q & A about books and how they live with us: with Alice Te Punga Somerville (questions) and answers by writers Becky Manawatu, Rebecca K Reilly, Elisapeta Heta and Shilo Kino.
“One of my hopes for Whai is that it shares a message that we aren't ever just one thing. We are as expansive as Te Moana Nui a Kiwa and beyond.” Nicole Titihuia Hawkins. Read more for a Q & A with the author of the poetry collection, WHAI.
The third commission from Ōtepoti Writers Lab is this stunning piece of creative non-fiction from Angela Trolove.
An essay by Sam George-Allen in response to the theme of Flight at Verb Readers & Writers Festival Gala Night 2021.
An essay by Meg Mason in response to the theme of Flight at Verb Readers & Writers Festival Gala Night 2021.
An poem by Rebecca Támas in response to the theme of Flight at Verb Readers & Writers Festival Gala Night 2021.
An essay by Clare Moleta in response to the theme of Flight at Verb Readers & Writers Festival Gala Night 2021.
An essay by Trish Harris in response to the theme of Flight at Verb Readers & Writers Festival Gala Night 2021.
An essay by Talia Marshall in response to the theme of Flight at Verb Readers & Writers Festival Gala Night 2021.
“I have been called a shrinking violet. But it’s not true. I love the beautiful, regretful, dangerous world. I like being out in it. It suits me.”
Lynn Davidson writes about being unmoored, but finding anchorage in memories, friends, help and nature.
Find it hard to find the time to write? Author and publisher Murdoch Stephens ponders the predicament and evokes ‘excessive authors’ like Brannavan Gnanalingam, Maggie Nelson and Georges Simenon to help find some solutions.
Short Stories
The winning story of this year’s 2023 Mansfield Short Story Award.
Judge Sue Orr comments, “The control of the story’s pace and tension is startling – of a standard rare in short fiction written by much older writers, let alone teenaged ones.”
‘Change is Possible’ was commissioned by Ōtepoti Writers Lab, an organisation that illuminates Otago’s literary talent.
‘Yellow Berries of the Sun’ was commissioned by Ōtepoti Writers Lab, an organisation that illuminates Otago’s literary talent.
‘Birds/Murkbang instead of therapy’ was commissioned by Ōtepoti Writers Lab, an organisation that illuminates Otago’s literary talent.
‘Oxford’ by Cadence Chung is the winning story of the 2021 Katherine Mansfield Short Story Award.
Bent But Not Broken’ was commissioned by Ōtepoti Writers Lab, an organisation that illuminates Otago’s literary talent.
‘Talk-Back Daughter’ was commissioned by Ōtepoti Writers Lab, an organisation that illuminates Otago’s literary talent.
Reading Lists
A reading list in response to themes of silencing, labelling and pigeon-holding. A list for celebrating, listening and letting the voices be loud!
Thanks to Creative New Zealand for supporting the commissioning of new writing.