I’ve been busy working on my second novel, and researching heavily. Thank you to the many people behind the scenes who are helping me in my quests~
Michelle, curator at Papakura Library, for her help with my MANY Hunua Falls questions,
Linton Stuart and Murray Sutton (who dragged me over hill and dale last week, showing me the backroads of Pukekohe and the old Maori trail over to Ararimu and Paparimu AND showed me Maketu paa site.. or Maketu Rock, as in this 1880 painting that I accidentally found online the NEXT DAY!)
Maketu Rock, maketu pa, by Alfred Sharp :View of the rock of Maketu, near Drury, NZ. 1880. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, NZ. Ref. Number: D-033-007 The centre foreground shows the site of an ancient pa of the Waiohua people, with a view of the southern approach to the Manukau Harbour and Auckland isthmus. A track leads on to the wooded promontory from the left foreground. Beyond the rock and to the right of it is a settler’s farmhouse showing fenced fields, tree stumps, and rows of garden plantings. (where the farmhouse is now was a Maori village.. which features in my story, as well!!! ) In the left distance, two rivers flow away into the Manakau Harbour and the Waitakere Ranges appear on the far horizon.The light effects and appearance of the sky indicate that the time is shortly before sunset Used with permission : http://mp.natlib.govt.nz/detail/?id=60022
Shannon for her glorious maps,
Rose (the author of the most splendid book I’ve ever seen on von Tempsky) at the Auckland War Memorial Library,
Rose’s Gorgeous Book on von TempskyThis is a BIG book! Contains his artwork, in colour and in black and white, and his story. It was done as a limited edition. Have a read!
And to so many more of you, thanks!
I am also writing, of course! Loving unfolding the history of New Zealand, Maori and Pakeha… 1863 was an incredibly turbulent and confusing time for many of the people who had learned to share life together here… when the “government” decided they needed more land for the settlers from abroad that they had promised land to… and not just any land, but the best, most productive, already-under-the-plow, land… It was not pretty. And didn’t improve much. I want to share the story.
Anyway, this coming Friday, 14 March, I will be reading excerpts from BOTH of both of my novels at the Celebration of Independence, as part of the first New Zealand ‘indie author’ month. There will be authors (stories for children in one area, and for adults in another), at THE CARGO SHED, on Dive Crescent, Tauranga, down near the Strand. The day’s event runs from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
I’ll be speaking/ reading from12:30 p.m. till 12:55 p.m. on Express Desire, and again from 3:00 pm until 3:25 pm., on A Sea of Green Unfolding. This has changed to TWO slots.
Come along if you want to hear some great stories. There will be some great local writers speaking, and many of the authors will have books for sale on the day.
