EVENTS:
NZSA Northland Branch meeting
Tuesday 7 July 2026, 7.30 pm, via Zoom
Secretary, Trish Fenton, will send the Zoom link with the agenda.
POETS@ONEONESIX
116a Bank Street Whangārei
Wednesday 15 July 2026, 5.30 – 7.30pm
THE SHORTEST DAY
Thanks to Deb Jowitt and Sue Barker of Whangarei Library 3.30 Flash
for presenting a delightful local Flash Fiction event!
The event was compered by Eddie Williams, Outreach Librarian, and the evening opened with musical entertainment from the fabulous band, Mermaid Bait.
We were honoured to have TWO Northland finalists – Deb Jowitt and Kim Martins. Along with “the usual suspects”, local librarians and politicians joined the celebration. Stories and poems were read by writers, and enjoyed by an appreciative audience.
Deb Jowitt Sue Barker
CONGRATULATIONS!
We’re delighted to share that the first-place winner of the 2026 National Flash Fiction Day (NFFD) competition in Aotearoa New Zealand is our very own Kim Martins for her story The other Jim.
Listen to Kim talking about her writing, and reading her story, on Culture 101 (RNZ National) with Purlina Lau.
Flash Fiction 2026 Winner Kim Martins reads her award …
LAUNCHED!
IN QUIET WINDS WE SETTLE
“Thank you from my big full heart for all of your support attending my book launch for ‘in quiet winds we settle’. We were blessed with the sunniest of days! Thanks to Amber at Amber’s Kitchen and the Quarry Arts crew for hosting us. Thanks to Charlotte and Harry for taking the time to make beautiful music from one of my poems. The arts community is thriving as a connective network of like-minded, caring, motivated, and intuitive people. I’m stoked to be a part of it.”
TRACIE LARK
REFLECTIONS:
Economics of a Literary Event
Reading this article led our Chair, Sherryl Clark, to reflect on the wider benefits of our May workshop, Pathways to Indie Publishing:
“When I think about it, we benefitted, NorthTec, the local catering company we used, the Settlers Hotel, the Quay restaurant, plus local petrol stations (probably), cafes (likely) – all as well as our members!”
https://www.storyfest.com.au/news/the-economics-of-a-literary-festival-explained-simply
Thanks to Creative Northland for supporting the workshop.
Let’s get ideas flowing about more readers’ and writers’ events for the future!
AUSSIE ADVENTURES
I asked our Branch Chair, Sherryl Clark, for an update. Here’s what she said:
“It’s been a busy few days so far in Melbourne. I’ve done two storytime readings in bookshops with “The Night Tiger”, and the booksellers have been so welcoming (and those little faces listening to the story!).
On Friday night I was on the panel for a Sisters in Crime event, which was fun, and I caught up with lots of crime readers. Saturday morning I was on ABC Melbourne radio – haven’t been able to listen to the replay yet. Hopefully I did OK!
This week I’m off around country Victoria to do some author events, and tomorrow I’m doing a tour of IngramSpark. I have all the questions that people wanted me to ask, so will report in next month’s newsletter.”
SERIOUS BUSINESS!
Tiger Face Toni Daly at Ages of Pages
GRAND REOPENING
Now operating as a charitable trust called Books, Bikes, and Beyond, but still signposted as Book Inn, the shop continues to offer an extensive range of affordable books while building on the community-focused legacy of our beloved Evon Morgan.
EXCELLENT ARTICLE PUBLISHED BY NZME
NZSA Northland member, Debby Curreen, has published a new book titled More Than This, which gathers 37 writings from 27 people bereaved by suicide. The book aims to reduce stigma, promote healing, and foster more positive, love-filled conversations about the lives and legacies of loved ones lost to suicide.
Far North author turns grief into hope with new suicide …
See Deb’s website for further details:
https://debcurreenauthor.bigcartel.com/product/more-than-this
SHARING NZSA NORTHLAND BRANCH NEWS AND EVENTS:
Share with us on our Facebook Pages for NZSA Northland
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1618171775233622 (Private members’ group)
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Submit your news, including events, awards, recent publications and book launches to: northlandauthors@gmail.com for inclusion in our monthly newsletter.
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Check for further updates on: https://northlandauthors.co.nz/
“Easy reading is damn hard writing.”
— Nathaniel Hawthorne
Northland Branch 