Books

A brief flirt with success

In this extract from her new book about colonial-era businesswomen, Women Mean Business, Catherine Bishop recalls the lives of two women who found fleeting success in Dunedin: Charlotte Dawson and...

'Queen of crime' feels right at home in Dunedin

Scotland's "queen of crime'' Val McDermid may be on the other side of the world to her homeland, but Dunedin's street names and gothic look make her feel right at home.

Controversial writers win Nobel literature prize

Austrian Peter Handke has won the 2019 Nobel Prize for Literature and Poland's Olga Tokarczuk was named as the 2018 winner after a sexual assault scandal led to last year's award being postponed.

Irish author Adrian McKinty’s Sean Duffy novels have won him widespread critical acclaim but it wasn’t until he wrote the gripping thriller The Chain that things really took off. McKinty is in town...

Celebrating with words

As part of the University of Otago's 150th celebrations it has run a new creative writing competition, "Writer'', with four sections; student poetry, student prose, staff poetry and staff prose.

The evening shift

As part of the University of Otago's 150th celebrations it has run a new creative writing competition, "Writer''. Here is the winner in the staff prose section.

The Life of George Song

As part of the University of Otago's 150th celebrations it has run a new creative writing competition, "Writer''. Here is the winner in the student prose section.

Writer competition: poetry winners

As part of the University of Otago's 150th celebrations it has run a new creative writing competition, "Writer''. Here are the winners of the staff poetry and student poetry sections.

Hocken Library short of space, but collecting continues

Hocken Library archives head curator Anna Blackman peruses the Salmond Architects Collection....

Hocken Library short of space, but collecting continues

The Hocken Library is still accepting donations, despite a growing lack of space - but archivists will now be assessing material before people bring it in.

Prof puzzled by book's rejection

University of Otago Emeritus Prof Jim Flynn recently had his book rejected by a publisher. Photo:...

Prof puzzled by book's rejection

Philosopher Jim Flynn's no stranger to controversy, but a UK rejection to publish his book on free speech is puzzling the Otago University Emeritus Professor.

Secrets of the dark art

Secrets of the dark art

There’ll be murder in the library in October as top crime writers from Scotland, Ireland and closer to home gather for the inaugural Celtic Noir crime writing festival.

Pair added to festival line-up

Pair added to festival line-up

After an extensive search for hot new writing talent across New Zealand, the fifth New Zealand Young Writers Festival will start in Dunedin next week.

'Metalhead' rewriting romance stereotype

Romance writer Steff Green with her beloved cats. Photos: Supplied

'Metalhead' rewriting romance stereotype

She brews mead, loves cats, is legally blind and a heavy metal fan — Steff Green is not your average romance writer, writes Rebecca Fox.

Much more to Codfish Island than kakapo

Dunedin writer Neville Peat firmly locates Whenua Hou/Codfish Island, in time and place, and reveals that the kakapo programme is just the latest chapter in a fascinating history.

Pair cook up way to honour city's cultures

A cookbook created by two Dunedin girls celebrates the melting pot of different cultures in the city.

Tips from a top storyteller

Write what you know. That was one of the gems of advice award-winning children's author Jennifer Somervell passed on to pupils during a writing workshop at Port Chalmers School.

Nowhere to run to

When the poisons we spill into the environment accumulate in ourselves to critical levels, what then will be the body’s response? A British novelist has sketched one terrifying possibility. Tom...