Kerry Sunderland writer and editor

28/12/2024

I have a library inside me! Groper’s Bush Library (I know, what a name!!) near Riverton was established in 1880, apparently making it the oldest library in Aotearoa.

04/11/2024

And that's a wrap on 2024, our 30th Nelson Arts Festival. Wow.

Our hugest thanks to all our wonderful artists, venues, partners, sponsors, funders, and our amazing crew and team. All together, we make magic.

And to our incredible community: THANK YOU for all your love and support, for coming to the shows, for standing ovations, great questions, big smiles, dancing in the streets and supporting all these audacious artists and festival makers to live their dreams. We couldn't do it if it wasn't for you.

Arohanui 💜

#2024

22/10/2024

When asked about the inspiration for her bestselling debut novel, Saraid de Silva said: “I just started by writing about people and places I knew, because I felt like I could speak to those things. . . I could start from there and then just make up the rest, which is kind of the most unexpectedly joyful part of writing fiction, realising that I could discover what was going to happen in real time.”

You can read the rest of my article about Saraid de Silva's appearance in Evoking the Diaspora as part of the Pukapuka Talks programme at this year's Nelson Arts Festival, where she will be in conversation with Jade Kake and Nathan Joe, on Stuff [LINK IN COMMENTS]

14/10/2024

Do you enjoy disappearing into books, discovering new words and new worlds? Here's a preview I wrote about this year's Nelson Arts Festival literary powerhouse event, Mythology & Mystical Realism. Hope to see all you Whakatū and Motueka readers and writers there! [LINK IN COMMENTS]

Rachael King and Lee Murray will meet on stage at the Nelson Arts Festival in a literary powerhouse event for those who enjoy disappearing into books.

09/10/2024

We love our independent bookshops and can't wait to celebrate them this Saturday for Aotearoa NZ Bookshop Day!

One reason that indies are so fab is because they go above and beyond to support local authors and publishers, and to uplift culture and community in Aotearoa. Bookshop Day aims to highlight the cultural importance of books and bookshops, and celebrate the people that bring the two together, our amazing booksellers. Read on for just one example of why indie bookshops and booksellers should be celebrated, not just this Saturday, but every day:

The Scorpio team were the bookselling team for the launch of Kataraina by Becky Manawatu in Kawatiri Westport. They drove to Westport from Christchurch on the Friday before the launch with Claudia at the wheel, via the Lewis Pass on State Highway 7, and stayed Friday and Saturday nights at Westport Kiwi Holiday Park & Motels (Claudia says they are 'gorgeous wee A-frame cabins'). Māia explored Kawatiri Beach on Saturday morning, then they had a very successful round of op-shopping in Westport. Bel and Claudia also managed a walk to Cape Foulwind on Saturday afternoon. Saturday evening was the launch at the Denniston Dog pub. They arrived to boxes of Kataraina and some of Auē waiting for them. They set up on the stage beside where the speakers, which included Tusiata Avia, who was launching the book, would be and proceeded to sell to the 100 people who came. 86 copies of Kataraina sold and 10 copies of Auē. The team left on Sunday, stopping in Reefton for coffee at the Broadway Tearooms. They all said it was a great trip. Bel says: "We loved getting some fresh air on the coast, such an awesome treat for us." And publisher Mary McCallum said it was wonderful to have the Scorpio team along. "They worked so hard and were just the right combination of calm, efficiency and exuberance that we needed for this important launch."

Left to right: Kerry Sunderland, Pukapuka Talks Programme Manager; Claudia Herz Jardine of Scorpio Books; Kataraina author Becky Manawatu; Mākaro Press Publisher Mary McCallum; Bel Monypenny and Māia Te Whetu of Scorpio Books.

Scorpio Books
Publishers Association of New Zealand
Mākaro Press
New Zealand Society of Authors

30/09/2024

I am absolutely thrilled Jacqueline Bublitz accepted our Nelson Arts Festival invitation to discuss her new book, Leave the Girls Behind, on its global launch day, Tuesday October 29! It's the highly anticipated follow up to her international bestseller and Ngaio Marsh Awards winning debut, Before You Knew My Name, and is VERY, VERY GOOD (lucky me has read an advance copy)! Here's my latest article in the Nelson Mail, which tells you more about it: https://www.stuff.co.nz/nz-news/350431701/writer-lift-lid-new-thriller-nelson-arts-Nelson Arts Festival

Jacqueline Bublitz won best novel and best first novel at the Ngaio Marsh Awards in 2022. A Nelson Arts Festival audience will get to hear her speak about her new thriller.

30/08/2024

So proud to be part of the team who will be delivering this AWE-INSPIRING, AUDACIOUS and ACCESSIBLE programme! And if you're a book nerd like me here's a direct link to our Pukapuka Talks events (my lucky seventh programme!!): https://nelsonartsfestival.nz/event/pukapuka-talks-2024/

21/08/2024

Thrilled to be one of four writers to receive a 2024 CLNZ | NZSA Research Grant. Congratulations to fellow recipients Lori Leigh, Steph Matuku Writer and Kate Parker.

09/08/2024

My first story about the history of the Nelson Arts Festival:

The 2024 Nelson Arts Festival will be the 30th annual multi-arts festival – in its current form – to take place in Whakatū and the community is invited to share their memories.

16/06/2024

My review of the extraordinary My Brilliant Sister by Amy Brown on The Spinoff. Thanks so much to Claire Mabey for inviting me to write it

Amy Brown’s debut novel is a three-part ode to family, and art-making interrupted.

08/06/2024

A big mihi to Robin Slow and Hamuera Manihera, as well as historian Dr Mike Johnston and Golden Bay Museum curator and manager Karen Johnson for speaking to me about the extraordinary Codrington Album. I loved working with curator Shae Trewin on this story for Nelson Provincial Museum Pupuri Taonga o Te Tai Ao:

The recent donation of a sought-after sketchbook is evidence Nelson Provincial Museum is still collecting highly significant and relevant objects for the region and demonstrates why investing in a new storage facility is so vital.

01/06/2024

Chuffed with this fantastic Otherhood write-up in Canvas magazine today ❤️🩷 https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/otherhood-book-steve-braunias-on-the-childless-childfree-and-being-a-father/WKCM7VQTWZA73FQEZT2PN7TYPI/

23/05/2024

There’s just over a week until entries close for the 2024 Te Tauihu Short Story Awards. There’s $3,600 in prize money up for grabs (in each language category: English & te reo Māori). Plus you can request an assessment for an additional $20. Previous entrants have told us it’s great value for money. Time to polish and proofread and upload your story(ies)!!

07/05/2024

Only two more sleeps until we launch Otherhood in Tāmaki Makaurau - I’ll be reading from my essay, ‘Mother Issues’!

Alie Benge (she/her) is a New Zealand writer who lives in London. Her debut essaycollection, Ithaca, was published in 2023.

12/04/2024

Are you struggling with your manuscript (or struggling to find the space/inspiration to write) and looking for some support to move forward? It's now only six weeks until the 2024 Autumn Writing Retreat with Elizabeth Knox kicks off on May 23 at the stunning Abel Tasman Lodge in Marahau. There are only two spaces remaining - find out more at

Write alongside acclaimed New Zealand author Elizabeth Knox at this intimate writing retreat in the top of the South Island from 14-19 December 2023

21/03/2024

Only two spaces remaining in the Autumn retreat from May 23-28 and only three spaces remaining in the Spring retreat from 19-24 September!

Bookings are now open, and spaces are filling fast, for this year's Write Across New Zealand retreats with acclaimed NZ writer and all-round wonderful human, Elizabeth Knox.

Note the plural? Due to popular demand, this year there will be two retreats: one in Autumn (from 23-28 May) and one in Spring (19-24 September). Find out more and book at https://writeacrossnewzealand.com/