This page gives a brief introduction to member authors in the Top of the South with surnames beginning with A-G. To find more information on the member and their writing click on the author's name.
|
Jeanette is the author of three books, recounting her life as an 'islomaniac' - i.e. loving (and living on) islands. The Lighthouse Keeper's Wife was published by Cape Catley in 2001, The Lighthouse Children’s Mother in 2007, and The Price of Bacon in 2011.
|
|
After a career in which he wrote extensively on technical topics, Garrick has shifted his attention to creative writing. What Happened to Haystacks and Horses? is a hybrid fiction/fact book about changes in our rural life, while Farmer Bill is a fictional autobiography. His current focus is on short stories of which he has published three collections to date.
|
|
During her years training, teaching and parenting, Megan wrote children’s stories and wove countless oral tales, none of them published. Out of these experiences, however, On Her Journey was born - a collection of poems that explore a woman's life navigating the world, relationships, societal ‘norms’ and expectations and her own relationship with herself.
|
|
Robyn wrote extensively for newspapers and professional magazines before writing Minute Taking Madness and co-authoring How Not to Fail in Business Without Really Trying, with Bob Boze. Since then she has turned to fiction, writing under the name of Casey Fae Hewson and has written three contemporary romances: Haven River, Aqua Bay and Misty Springs.
|
|
Academic, researcher and writer, Patricia has published five novels, as well as a history book, Unauthorized Power: Parihaka - a Social History and a series of stories for young children. Magic to Mindfulness: a Pathway into Science (published 2020) is aimed at encouraging young people to enjoy science through simplifying its complexity.
|
|
Martin grew up in the northwest of England but discovered New Zealand in 1998 when he came to work with a new branch of an international engineering consultancy. Writing became a major focus of his life when he at last managed to set aside dedicated time for it. Since then he has completed an historical trilogy, The Four Masters, set in Ireland, where his ancestors lived, and more recently a humorous fantasy, called Destroyer of Worlds.
|
|
Geographer and environmental scientist turned novelist and occasional poet, David has published five novels and a collection of poetry to date. His novels have been long-listed for the Michael Gifkins Award and short-listed for the Constable Trophy and NZ Booklovers Award. He has also won prizes both locally and internationally for his poetry.
|
|
Widely recognised for her skills as a flax-weaver, Ali runs a website on flax-weaving for both beginners and fellow experts, and has written five guides to flax-weaving, including her latest Flax Weaving for Children of All Ages – Te Raranga Harakeke mā ngā Tamariki Katoa, published in 2024.
|
|
Suzanne Clark has farmed deer, searched for gold in the hills and pioneered a business growing oysters in deep water cages since moving to Golden Bay. In addition to that, she has published five novels and a children's picture book. Her novels are mainly historical fiction, and the latest Hōkioi: Giant of the Sky is a story about the giant eagles that once inhabited the Pacific region.
|
|
With a background in classical studies and drama, Rachael also pursued acting for a while and wrote plays for amateur theatre and film scripts. She now writes Young Adult fiction. Her debut novel Spark was released in 2014 by Walker Books Australia. Book two Stray followed in 2015, and book three Shield in 2016. Her latest YA title The Rift was published in 2018.
|
|
Marion has published a number of books, mainly picture books for children, as well as fiction for young adults, and short stories. She also has children’s stories published in anthologies. Several of her works have won, or been short-listed for, awards, including the annual Joy Cowley Awards and the New Zealand Rural Women’s/MPI short story and photographic competition.
|
|
Over a span of thirty-plus years, John has written and produced for all forms of media: print, radio, jingles, TV, video, short film, exhibition marketing and web content. Most recently, he was arts writer for Wild Tomato magazine, a freelance PR journalist, and a reviewer for Theatreview. Currently his main role is in creative direction and writing for ad agencies and personal clients.
|
|
Colin writes the Captain Stinky and Sailor Puss series of books for children aged 3-8 years. They are amusing and educational with a nautical theme, a moral in each story and a quiz at the end. The object is to write fictitious tales interspersed with facts about old sailing ships, sea fish and birds. A Chuckle and Learn series.
|
|
Working for the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research at Lincoln, and later as Professor of Botany at Victoria University of Wellington, Phil has specialised in the study of weeds and hebes. He has published over 100 scientific papers and book chapters and, retired now, focuses on creative non-fiction and memoir.
|
|
Bruce is the author of the biography Walking with James Hogg, reflecting both on his ancestor’s journeys through the Highlands and Islands from 1802 and his own own misadventures in following them.
|
|
Jeanette is a picture book creator. Living on the West Coast of the South Island of Aotearoa New Zealand, she has developed a great love of all things wild. Her books reflect an environment that is interdependent , interrelated and alive with wonder.
|
|
With a background in Art History and Education, Elizabeth has a passion to help women and girls understand and appreciate the intelligence of the female body, and how it connects us to the cycles of the natural world. These are themes in her first novel, The Well of Truth - a story that reflects her love of art, travel, mythology, goddess traditions, trees, and the moon.
|