TWC was established to support and encourage writers, and to share their love of writing among members and with children. N.B. this list is by no means complete and for simplicity runs in alphabetical order.

 

Jean Anderson was founding member of Tauranga Writers for Children. She loves the bush, mountains, the sea and sailing. They often feature in her stories, some of which you may have heard on radio, or read in books or magazines. “I use real experiences in my stories, but you may not recognise them by the time I’ve put my imagination to work and woven them into a plot.” See http://christchurchcitylibraries.com/Kids/ChildrensAuthors/list.asp.

 

Eunice Barnes has written a series of humorous stories about Nip. With the very best of

intentions, Nip gets himself into all kinds of strife that somehow work out right at the end.

 

Joan Benham wrote stories about her childhood, particularly about after she came to live in

Tauranga. TWC published some of Joan’s stories in Summertime (1998) which is available

through Tauranga Library. See https://ent.kotui.org.nz/client/en_AU/tauranga/search/results/?ln=en_US&q=Joan%20Benham&rw=0 .

Joan also wrote verse. “I think deep thoughts and listen to nocturnal things, the hoot of an owl, snuffling hedgehogs in the leaves, a cricket’s song, and wind music in the trees comforts me.”

 

Merle Braithwaite grew up in South Africa. She enjoyed tramping and bird watching, was a teacher with a special interest in helping children to read, and was published in South Africa, the UK and NZ. “I’m always looking for ideas, anything from a word or sound or smell to a major incident. I store them in my memory until I need them for a story.” See https://bookraptnz.wordpress.com/authors/merle-braithwaite/.

 

John Brown was a policeman in England. After he came to New Zealand, he drew on his police experience, but also wrote stories set in his new home; hilariously funny, totally made-up stories like The Witch with the Scooter who flew high in the sky (Book 3 Stories for Kiwi Kidz).

 

“She let out the clutch and unhitched the brake.

With a hiss and a twist that resembled a snake,

She flew like black thunder right into town.”

 

Jill Cameron worked with children and adults who have special needs. She loves to read and write stories for children. In The Grumpy Drum (Stories for Kiwi Kidz Book 1) she writes, “There’s a special place I go to when I want to be alone. It’s private and it’s cosy and it’s called my comfort zone.”

 

Mary Candy tweaked her life experiences into such fun stories that anyone reading them would end up with a smile on their face. When the trapeze artist was sick, Popcorn the Clown (Stories for Kiwi Kidz Book 1) had to ride a penny-farthing bike in the ring. The crowd “laughed and applauded. In Popcorn’s heart it was the happiest laughter in the world.” Did Mary know how to ride a penny-farthing? You have to guess.

 

Titles …

“It’s hard to think of a you-must-read-me title that doesn’t tell readers what the story is about,” says Kathryn Mato.

John Brown agrees, “Titles are tricky.”

Gayel Collnson has decided, “The titles famous children’s writers chose are often magical. For me, titles can come at any stage of writing, and from anywhere.”

Gail Page, “tackles titles first which helps me write my stories.”

Jean Anderson says, “I find titles the most difficult part and often have to wait until the story is finished for it to reveal itself.”

Kate Clark says, “It is amazing the things my characters get up to - like an adventurous goldfish, an equally adventurous truck, and a feisty gecko. They become real to me as I write and take on a personality all of their own. I don’t always know where they’d end up, but I love the places they take me.”

 

Gayel Collinson loves to travel and read. “Travelling is a great way to learn about interesting places and people and history. Watching people often inspires me to write a story.” See Gayel’s novel under her pen name Gracie Stathers https://focusmagazine.co.nz/gracie-stathers-family-history/.

 

Moyna Conning did not imagine when she was raising her children that she would one day use the things that happened to write. “My stories are all based on my real life experiences.” David was woken by his Uncle to see four kangaroos in the garden. Someone had left the gate open! “The roos “snuffled and sniffed at everything and hopped out through the gate and into the field.” (Book 3 Stories for Kiwi Kidz.)

 

Karen Cossey. Imagination is a fun place to be where anything can happen. I share that fun in writing - it's so satisfying to see a story unfold. Roaming the farm where I grew up gave me itchy feet which have never left me. I spent nine months travelling around Europe, soaking in the sights and sounds, fuelling my imagination. Many stories, like seeds in the ground, now wait, ready to take root and grow. See https://www.karencossey.com/.

 

Jana Dobson grew up in the United States. “I draw on two cultures for my stories, my children great for vetting ideas. If they don’t go down with them, they don’t work.” In Bubble Bill (Stories for Kiwi Kidz too two) we read, “At bubble blowing contests Bill always takes first prize. He’s been on the news. He’s been on TV. Bubble Bill has become a celebrity.”

 

Faye Gillman-Bate says, "Seeing the world through the eyes of the pupils I have taught in South Africa and New Zealand, the wonderful memories of my daughters Heidi and Cindy growing up, and the precious time I have spent with my granddaughter, Sarah, have given me numerous ideas for my children's stories."

(See Stories for Kiwi Kidz, Books 2 through 5.)

 

Gaye Hemsley began writing as a child entering contests in the children's page of the 'Women's Weekly'. Writing courses gave foundations for story writing. She has self-published several children’s picture books, including Dance a Poem coming with a CD for children to act out. (https://nz.linkedin.com/in/gaye-hemsley-b742a032.)

 

Alison Hossack brought unusual colour and words to stories. She was good at critiquing stories written by other writers and encouraging would-be writers to start.

 

Jenny Jenkins writes NZ history stories. Battle for the Gate tells how Heni Te Kirikaramu watched the attack on Gate Pa and saw soldiers wounded and left behind. She tended the injured and her acts of kindness displayed a celebration of humanity on the battlefield. (See https://ent.kotui.org.nz/client/en_AU/tauranga/search/results?qu=Jenny+Jenkins&te=.)

 

Kathy Mato grew up in Tasmania and taught children in NZ and Africa. “Lots of things have happened over the years to the children I’ve worked with. I use these to create stories for them.” In The Lost Tooth (Stories for Kiwi Kidz Book 1) Emily is six and very proud of her wiggly front tooth until... she is eating her cheese and potato-top pie and her tooth disappears!

 

Alison Murray works behind the scenes in TWC keeping accounts in order. She says, “I love music and have played in the Tauranga Orchestra. Writing a story is a bit like playing music. I just use my pen rather than my viola.” Imagination takes Alison on a musical journey to create a lot of humour in her stories. Favourite with TWC members are those Alison wrote about the antics of Scruffy the dog (see Stories for Kiwi Kidz too two).

 

Eileen O’Brien loved writing jingles. “Ideas grow from playing about with words and experiences, although it can mean lots of perspiration, rather than inspiration!” In Smouldering Smellies (Book 3 Stories for Kiwi Kidz) a dog called Smellie raises the alarm when a fire starts. Smellie is awarded a medal and gets the best dinner he has ever had. “It smelled DEEEEE-LICIOUS!”

 

Gaye Page enjoys writing, especially for children. She has had work published in the media and magazines.

 

Jan Pendergrast lives on a farm surrounded by native trees. She enjoys watching, listening to, and feeding the native birds in her garden. Jan has published five books. Ruatara is a 13,000- word novelette about Samuel Marsden who was invited to NZ by Northland Maori. Tui’s Friends, Dam Disaster, Hut Hangout and Pop’s Busy Blue Truck are picture books.

“Every other book I read to my grandson has to be about Pop’s Truck!” says Jean Anderson.

 

Marie Peters was an artist who wrote poetry and stories for children. “I see my stories in my imagination as I write them, the colours and the action.” Marie wrote such humorous stories it was often hard to read them aloud without laughing!

 

Sheila Slattery’s head is full of ideas. “Travelling, people, nature, watching animals - they usually come together in a story when I’m doing the ironing.” In Lucky Dip, (Book 3 Stories for Kiwi Kidz) Snoot Family Snails have a disaster. Chocolate snails get mixed up with the garlic snails, and pickled snails with fresh snails. “Don’t worry,” said Loppy Ears Rabbit. “You can call it Lucky Dip.” They did and it was a great success.

 

Etheljoy Smith: Having published ‘serious stuff’ since ancient times, I tried writing for kids. But a bossy beetle insisted I wrote HIS story, boasting ‘I can fly with my wings. You need an aerothingummy to fly. I have six legs. You only have TWO!’ So I did write his story. My publisher loved it. Now, other characters want me to write THEIR stories. So I do. It’s skillywickedawesomefun for ME! Etheljoy’s last book was Rob to the Rescue (2015) wonderfully illustrated by Gordon Miller. Alicia, a famous prize-winning cat, longs only for freedom and escapes into adventure after adventure. See https://m.facebook.com/TaurangaWriters/posts/1001509503250583.

 

Marjorie Stone wrote about things she loved. In Peter Penguin’s Story Ben and Grandma know a penguin and help it back to good health. They know the sadness of seeing it swim into the sea and away. “It looked at me,” said Grandma, “made a neat dive and swam out towards the setting sun.” (The Book with No Name; book 4 in the Stories or Kiwi Kidz series.)
 

Lois Taylor says: I write about the things I know. In "X and Y" I write the story of Gary who lives on a farm near Matamata in the Waikato. Once upon a time, I lived there so I know what I’m writing is true to fact. I’m busy now writing Gary’s further adventures ... …

 

Lorraine Thomas: People are fascinating. I love to watch them, especially my grandchildren. I weave the things I see happen into the plots of my stories. Take Nikki, the dachshund. His legs were too short to gallop down the beach. Or the opening night of the school’s annual production ... What happened, you ask? You have to read the stories to find out.

 

Seonee Ware loved books as a child. As a grownup, she was a Librarian and had books all around her. Seonee had great fun using the names of her grandchildren as characters in her stories. In The Magic Painting Book (Nothing for Rufus 1999) Freiya could not decide which picture to paint in her new book. She chose a rocking horse ... and it started to grow until it was big enough to climb on its back.

(See https://ent.kotui.org.nz/client/en_AU/tauranga/search/results?qu=Seonee+Ware&te=.).

 

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In the 30+ years since its formation in 1990, Tauranga Writers for Children has welcomed many local writers and worked with some by email to share their writing and to listen to the work of others. They’ve visited primary schools in the region, and joined in events like Children’s Day (sadly now defunct) organised by Tauranga City Council.

 

Read about TWC History on this website.

 

The five Stories for Kiwi Kidz books are in most libraries and many primary schools.

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Stories for Kiwi Kidz 1999

Stories for Kiwi Kidz too two 2000

Book 3 Stories for Kiwi Kidz 2001

The Book with No Name 2005

25 More Stories for Kiwi Kidz 2008

 

We send a huge THANK YOU to all the children who have supported us along the years.

(With thanks to https://pixabay.com/vectors/line-art-children-stickman-child-5386523/.)

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Before Great Aunt May had arrived, Mum had gone crazy.

The house was turned upside down and everything,

absolutely everything, was cleaned. A man even came to

clean the carpets and lounge furniture, including Scruffy’s

favourite chair.

That’s where the trouble started … when Scruffy slunk in

with the biggest, most disgusting bone in the world.

From The Visitor in The Book with No Name

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Gran’s Dandelion-yellow Car (Stories for Kiwi Kidz Book 1) offers many adventures in
the wreck that was Gran’s car if you climb through the window with no glass.

 

 

 

As long-time member Etheljoy Smith said, “We have done what we set out to do.”

We certainly have which is why TWC went into recess… to rest, pending… and finally decided to close down completely.

Our books will still be around for you to read. Ask at your local library.