9 November 2011

Fiona Farrell is the 2011 Otago University Robert Burns Fellow. She has recently launched The Broken Book, a book that started off being a travel memoir about walking, but that developed into something quite different in the aftermath of the Christchurch earthquakes, which resulted in her city house being red stickered and changed life at her home on the Banks Peninsula. We’ll talk about The Broken Book, and also her experiences in being the Burns Fellow.

 


The New Zealand General Election is to be held on Saturday the 26th of November, and in conjunction there is the referendum on the voting system in New Zealand. Dr Philip Temple is a supporter of the existing system, MMP, and has recently formed Writers for MMP, a group of notable New Zealand writers who have also come out to show their support of MMP. We will talk about MMP, the referendum and what it all means.

12 October 2011

International guests day.

Today I am replaying interviews with two of the special international guests I've had the privilege to chat with, American writers Diana Gabaldon and Annie Proulx.

Diana Gabaldon is an American writer and Best-Selling author of the Outlander series of books which are a winning combination of historic fiction, modern day, science fiction, romance and adventure. Diana was in Dunedin promoting the seventh book in the series, An Echo in the Bone. We talked about the pleasures and challenges of writing such a sprawling saga that covers turbulent times in history from Culloden to the American Revolution.






American author Annie Proulx visited Dunedin in March to promote her new book Bird Cloud, a memoir. I had the opportunity to talk with Annie about Bird Cloud, as well as her other writing.

14 September 2011

Dunedin writer Paul Sorrell has teamed up once again with photographer Graham Warman ( Fleur’s Place) to produce Trail: Riding the Otago Central Rail Trail. We will talk about the research involved in producing a book like this, the highlights of the rail trail and some of the characters he met along the way.



 

Dr Poia Rewi is an associate professor in Te Tumu, the school of Maori, Pacific and Indigenous studies at the University of Otago. His book Whaikorero: The World of Maori Oratory won the Best First Book Award in the 2011 New Zealand Post Book Awards. We will talk about Whaikorero, and the story behind the book. 







 

10 August 2011

Sophie’s Legacy is the recently released book written by Leslie Elliott and William J O’Brien as a tribute to Sophie Elliott, the young Dunedin woman murdered by Clayton Weatherston in 2008. The book describes the events leading up to, and those that occurred on the day of Sophie’s death, and then the harrowing aftermath including the family’s experiences in the justice system. I will be talking with Bill O’Brien about the book and how he approached writing about such difficult and emotional events with the people most affected by them.








 

Laurence Fearnley has recently been announced as the winner of the 2011 NZ Post Book Award for Fiction for The Hut Builder. I talked with her several months ago about The Hut Builder and her writing, and will replay this interview with the always interesting to chat with Fearnley.

13 July 2011

Penelope Todd is a Novelist, writer of young adult fiction, editor and now publisher. She has taken a bold step into the new world of e-publishing by forming Rosa Mira Books, an e-publishing company that launched itself onto the literary scene with The Glass Harmonica by Dorothee E Kocks. We’ll talk about what it takes to set up an e-publishing venture and the world of e-books and how it impacts on the book world as we know it.

 

 

 

Raymond Huber has recently launched Wings, the new adventures of Ziggy the bee, who we met in Sting. Raymond is a writer of children’s books and educational books as well as an editor and occasional sculptor. We’ll talk about the new adventures of Ziggy the bee and the importance of making children aware of environmental issues in a fun and entertaining way

8 June 2011

Laurence Fearnley has recently launched her new novel The Hut Builder. We’ll talk about the book, and the inspiration the mountains and the great outdoors has given to her writing.

Ian Chapman is about to launch Kiwi Rock Chicks, Pop Stars and Trail Blazers which looks at fifty years of inspiring and aspiring women in New Zealand Music. We’ll chat about the people in the book, and how he went about tackling a project with such diverse people.

 

This is a replay of the November 2010 show, due to the show host being struck down by winter bugs. The Hut Builder has recently been named as a finalist in the NZ Post Book Awards.

To listen to this episode click here.

11 May 2011

Andrew Porteous is a Dunedin playwright and novelist. His first crime fiction novel, A Political Affair won the 2010 Kinglake Publishing Unpublished Author prize, the prize being publication of the novel. We'll talk about the book, the prize and the process involved as well as Andrews experience as a playwright.

Last month I talked to American author Annie Proulx about her memoir Bird Cloud. After several requests I am replaying the interview with this fascinating writer.

13 April 2011

Fosterling is the new novel by Dunedin writer and poet Emma Neale. The back cover blurb starts 'A young man is found unconscious in a remote forest. he is over seven-feet tall, his skin is covered in thick hair, which reminds onlookers of an animal's pelt. When he wakes in a city hospital, he is eerily uncommunicative...Speculation begins.

American author Annie Proulx recently visited Dunedin to promote her new book Bird Cloud, a memoir. I had the opportunity to talk with Annie about Bird Cloud, as well as her other writing.




To listen to this episode go here.

9 March 2011

Bronwyn Wyllie-Gibb is one of the fantastically knowledgeable staff at The University Book Shop and  regular on the show. We'll chat about the latest books, the finalists and winners in some recent competitions, what's hot and what new books are coming.




Kyle Mewburn is the 2011 Otago University College of Education Children's Writer in Residence. He is the writer of award winning children's books such as Kiss! Kiss! Yuck! Yuck! and Old Huhu. His latest picture book Hill and Hole has been named as a finalist in the NZ Post Children's Book Awards.

To listen to this episode go here

9 February 2011

Emeritus Professor Helen Leach is best known for sorting out the question of who came up with the pavlova first - Kiwis or Aussies? She has recently released From Kai to Kiwi Kitchen, a book about New Zealand culinary traditions. We will chat about New Zealand cuisine, from earliest Polynesian traditions to the modern day.







Vanda Symon has just released Bound, the fourth novel in her Detective Sam Shephard crime series. Tania Roxborogh interviews Vanda about the book, the joys and challenges of writing a series, and where to now?





To listen to this episode go here

12 January 2011

This show is a summer selection of a couple of interviews with international authors who came visiting in 2010

Scottish Crime writer Val McDermid was in Dunedin recently to promote her latest novel Trick of the Dark. McDermid is internationally renowned for her crime fiction and in particular her Wire in the Blood novels, which have been made into a television series by the BBC. She was the recipient of the 2010 Cartier Diamond Dagger Award of the Crime Writers Association. We talk about her life in crime writing as well as her new novel.

British born, Canadian living crime writer Peter Robinson was in New Zealand recently promoting his new Detective Chief Inspector Banks novel, Bad Boy. I had the opportunity to talk with him about the book, music and his novels getting to television.



To listen to this episode go here 

8 December 2010

Jim Flynn is emeritus professor of politics at Otago university, and an avid reader who has recently had published The Torchlight List: Around the World in 200 Books. We’ll chat about why he felt the need to embark on such an endeavour, and, of course, about the books and his reasons for choosing the books that made the cut.

David Eggleton is a man of many talents. He is a poet, non-fiction writer and critic. He has also produced short films and documentaries. We’ll talk about his new collection of poetry – The Time of Icebergs, and also about his recent appointment as the editor of Landfall. 


To listen to this episode go here.

10 November 2010

Laurence Fearnley has recently launched her new novel The Hut Builder. We’ll talk about the book, and the inspiration the mountains and the great outdoors has given to her writing.

Ian Chapman is about to launch Kiwi Rock Chicks, Pop Stars and Trail Blazers which looks at fifty years of inspiring and aspiring women in New Zealand Music. We’ll chat about the people in the book, and how he went about tackling a project with such diverse people.



To listen to this episode click here.

13 October 2010

Tania Roxborogh has recently released Bloodlines, the second book in her Banquo's Son Trilogy, the first of which recently won the Young Adult Fiction category in the LIANZA Book Awards. We'll talk about Bloodlines, and the pressures and joys of having to deliver a trilogy of books to an eager audience.






British born, Canadian living crime writer Peter Robinson was in New Zealand recently promoting his new Detective Chief Inspector Banks novel, Bad Boy. I had the opportunity to talk with him about the book, music and his novels getting to television.




To listen to this episode click here.

8 September 2010

Scottish Crime writer Val McDermid was in Dunedin recently to promote her latest novel Trick of the Dark. McDermid is internationally renowned for her crime fiction and in particular her Wire in the Blood novels, which have been made into a television series by the BBC. She was the recipient of the 2010 Cartier Diamond Dagger Award of the Crime Writers Association. We talk about her life in crime writing as well as her new novel.

Dunedin writer Sue Wootton has until now been known as a poet and short story writer. She is now adding Children’s Book Writer to her list of achievements, with the publication of Cloudcatcher. We’ll talk about her experiences in writing work for children as well as her passion for poetry and short fiction. 


To listen to this episode click here.

11 August 2010

Neville Peat is a writer of fiction and non-fiction books that relate to his love of the natural environment. He was the 2007 recipient of the Creative New Zealand Michael King Writer's Fellowship which he used for the research involved in his latest book The Tasman: Biography of an Ocean. We talk about the huge undertaking it is to write a biography of an ocean and all of the facets he had to cover.









Philip Temple published his memoir Chance is a Fine Thing in 2009. I will replay an interview I did with Philip at the time where we talked about the book and some of the stories in the life of this outstanding and respected writer in his long and fruitful career.




To listen to this episode click here.

14 July 2010

Bill O'Brien is the writer of many books for children and adults. Bill is a retired police officer and has written several books relating to police issues including Aramoana - Twenty-two hours of Terror, and Invisible Evidence - Forensics in New Zealand. We'll talk about his writing and his new book - Blue Adrenalin - Life in the New Zealand Police.






Joan Bishop is a cooking writer for The Otago Daily Times and the writer of Joan Bishop's New Zealand Cock Pot and Slow Cooker Cook Book which was first published in 1985 and has recently had a new edition produced with more recipes. We'll talk about the joys of slow cooking, and also the art of the food writer.

9 June 2010

Paddy Richardson has recently released her third novel, Hunting Blind, a psychological thriller which starts out with the disappearance of a little girl in Wanaka, and moves around Dunedin, and other familiar locations in the South Island. We'll talk about Hunting Blind, the allure of writing crime fiction, and the perception of crime fiction in the writing world.





Bronwyn Wylie-Gibb from Dunedin's The University Book Shop is a regular guest on the show. Join us as we chat about current books, trends and whats hot in the book world.

12 May 2010

Penelope Todd has recently released her novel Island. It is a story set on a 19th century quarantine island, a story of love and of death. We talk about her new novel, and the journey from being a very successful writer for young adults to writing a literary novel for adults.







Karen Trebilcock is the 2010 Otago University College of Education Children's Writer in residence. Under the pseudonym Ella West she has written the Thieves trilogy for young adults. We'll talk about her books, the residency and her new foray into writing for the stage.

14 April 2010

Kyle Mewburn is a finalist in the New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards for 2010 with his picture book Old Huhu, illustrated by Rachel Driscoll. We talk about the book, his other publications and the busy life of a children's writer.







Tania Roxborogh is also a finalist in the New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards, with her young adult fiction novel Banquo's Son. I replay an interview I had with Tania in September last year, where we talked about Banquo's Son, and the pressure that comes with writing a sequel to Shakespeare's Macbeth.