This page gives a brief introduction to member authors in the Top of the South with surnames beginning with H-P. To find more information on the member and their writing click on the author's name.
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Shelly Nonanda Harris is the pen-name of Susan Nonanda Smith. An experienced teacher who also runs her own drama school, she writes the ‘My Nanny' children's stories which she hopes will give young readers the courage to rise above their circumstances. Five illustrated books in the series are now available.
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Freelance journalist, historian and novelist, Carolyn is the author of Great Expectations: the Colonisation of Buller, an account of the nineteenth century settlement of the Buller region, and The Floating Basin, a small-town Gothic story set against the background of a murder inquiry.
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Over 30 years, Rebecca has written for a wide range of magazines and won numerous media awards. In 2015, she moved to Golden Bay and after publishing several books about sailing and notable sailors, has now written an account of her time as a lifestyle block holder, called High Heels and Gumboots to be published in 2025.
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After writing for newspapers and magazines. Pam wrote two non-fiction book, Shimshal and Women of Shimshal, about life in a remote area of Pakistan. In 2021, under the name of Laura Strange, she published a memoir, Big Pockets - the Confessions of a Wanton Woman.
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Wix mainly lives a life of crime in novels featuring financial forensic sleuth Cassidy StPaul. Her four books to date are: Dead Money (2012), Conscience Money (2013), Texas Money (2014), and Rugby Money (2015). She also writes short stories and has produced short help books on how to survive austerity and how to read to your dog!
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As well as academic works and essays, Linda Jane writes children's picture books. Her three published titles have been shortlisted for a number of awards, including the NZ Booklovers Awards (twice), NZCYA Book Awards and the Charlotte and Wilbur Award for Compassion for Animals.
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Born in Christchurch, Julie is a Picton-based writer. Her book Katherine Mansfield in Picton was published in 2000 and she has also compiled a Chronology of Picton and Queen Charlotte Sound (Volume 1, to 2009). She co-edited a poetry anthology, Reflections, and edited Impressions: Picton Poets an Anthology, while several of her own poems have been published in anthologies.
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After several media jobs, Liz was a publisher-editor-designer for ten years before editing a community paper in Albany. As a freelance writer she wrote articles for NZ Geographic and NZ Listener, and later completed a BA in English before becoming internal communicator at Waitakere City Council. She now writes for pleasure, makes pottery and runs a B&B called ‘The Writer’s Room'.
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Jan has long written fiction, alongside her life as a clinical psychologist and mother. After taking early retirement, she dedicated herself to writing and completed a novel, Butterfly Soup, and a self-help book for depression sufferers, Harnessing Hope. Her two most recent works are reflective studies on life and coping with its problems.
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Anne has been an orchestral oboist and a university lecturer and researcher. Her work has been published in peer-reviewed books and journals across the world. Since settling in New Zealand she has published a number of books for young children.
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Paul Maunder has had a lengthy career in film and theatre. Both writer and director of his films, his work has won international awards. In recent years he has published five novels, including the Moments In Time trilogy spanning the time from 1862 to 2019. He has also released a collection of plays and an autobiography.
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A writer and poet based in Blenheim, Carol has wide experience in writing for business and policy, but now dedicates herself to creative writing, including short-stories and poetry. She has been published in several local and international magazines and anthologies and been a finalist in several writing competitions.
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As well as being a published poet, Helen is the author of the bestselling ‘Grandma’ picture books, about a down to earth great-grandma whose special brand of marmalade has helped everyone from policemen in a faint, to the All Blacks, Santa’s reindeer and the guards at Buckingham Palace. In 2018, Grandma Joins the All Blacks was listed in Booksellers choice twenty bestsellers of the decade.
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After a career as a producer and script-writer, and then advertising, Phil set up a website development company in Marlborough. His first novel was The Art of Dodging (published in 2017) the story of the Artful Dodger’s life after he had left the pages of Oliver Twist.
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A highly qualified photographer and researcher, Rosalina has published Belated Accolades, a slice of New Zealand photographic history over the period of 1843-2017 covering the Unesco Heritage Status of a Photographic Collection plus the photographers who left their mark on Nelson’s Photographic History.
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Tania is a writer based in Nelson. Her work in research and education often involves technical and academic writing, but it's through creative writing she finds the joy of story-telling.
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Trish is a playwright and writer. Her non-fiction book Knock Knock: Confessions of a Kiwi Interviewer was published in 2021 by Upstart Press, while her short story With All My Heart won the NZSA Northland Branch 2021 Short Story Competition. Several of her plays have also been staged both locally and in Europe, and Housewifely Duties was short-listed for the Short and Sweet Festivals Sydney and Dubai.
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