Date: Saturday 9 May 2026
Time: Registrations open 8:45 am. NorthWrite event runs from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Venue: Apprentice Restaurant, NorthTec, 51 Raumanga Road, Whangārei
Cost: Full day $60.00, this price includes lunch, tea and coffee
Northland authors will get first preference for tickets. If you are from outside Northland, please email the organisers here to be added to the waitlist.
Workshop/Panel Presenters
Deborah Hinde lives and works in rural Waikato where her garden and local mountain provide inspiration for stories and character. After many years illustrating picture books with publishing houses, Deborah thought it was time to have a go at writing and publishing her own stories. She started her imprint PictureBook Publishing in 2016 with her first book, Hare. Since then, Deborah has published another 7 books. Her most popular book Sleep Little Kiwi, Sleep has 8,500 copies in print. https://www.deborahhinde.co.nz/
Cheryl Phipps is a USA Today best-selling romance author who lives with her wonderful husband, whom she married the moment she left school (yes, they were high school sweethearts). With three married children and seven grandchildren to keep her busy when she’s not writing, there is just enough space for a crazy mixed breed dog who stole her heart!
She enjoys family times, baking, rambling walks, and her quest for the perfect latte.
Cheryl also writes Cozy Mysteries as C. A. Phipps.
Chery is also one of the SPA Girls podcast hosts. With more than 450 episodes, the self-publishing podcast is consistently on top podcast for writers & publishers lists.
Wendy Vella is a USA Today bestselling author of historical romances. Known for her uplifting stories woven with wit, sensuality, and intrigue, she has appeared on bestseller lists many times. A lifelong romantic, Wendy published her first novel in 2013 after years of honing her craft, and now writes from a small beachside community in the Bay of Plenty, where she lives with her husband, surrounded by family, and far too many pets.
She also writes small-town contemporary romance as Lani Blake.
Wendy is also one of the SPA Girls podcast hosts. With more than 450 episodes, the self-publishing podcast is consistently on top podcast for writers & publishers lists.
Thanks to CCS for the grant enabling us to offer this event to the Northland writing community
Northland Branch 