PhD in Creative Writing

Over the next few years I will clock up plenty of air miles as I travel from Dunedin to the International Institute of Modern Letters at Victoria University of Wellington where I am enrolled in a PhD in Creative Writing programme. I meet regularly with my two supervisors, Bill Manhire and Pamela Wood, and I also take part in student discussions and presentations. It’s a privilege to study and write in such a supportive environment.

I am currently working on my creative component which is a novel entitled 'Let Your Heart Be Afraid', focussing on the experiences of a group of New Zealand nurses on active service in Egypt and France during the First World War. This novel will be published by Penguin Group (NZ). My critical component explores nurses’ firsthand experiences as represented in their memoirs, historians’ representations of this material, and fiction written by several of the nurses after the war which draws on and also fictionalises their experiences.

Writing Offshore

I’m currently in sunny Western Australia working on my new novel which is humming along now that I’m giving it the full-time attention it deserves. Most days I write from 7.30am to 2.30pm then take in the sights, often from the deck of a boat meandering down the river or canals. Late afternoon I return to the office, read over my morning’s work and make notes for the next day, an ideal rhythm for this early first draft stage.

Mandurah Library Presentations
On Thursday 26th March I’m giving two talks at the Mandurah Library as part of their Writers in Libraries programme. The first presentation, entitled ‘Writing Fiction: Influences and Experiences’, tracks my development as a writer of fiction, and begins at 2pm. After questions from the audience, we’ll take a short break before I present my second session, ‘Telling Our Personal Stories', which focuses on my narrative research and work with digital storytelling. Again there’ll be opportunities for discussion and the sharing of ideas, particularly those related to the Lives Past project.

I’m looking forward to meeting lots of West Australians and visitors to the beautiful Mandurah area.

Dunedin Public Library Event – My Writing: how it began

October through to December is a busy time at Dunedin Public Library. Lots of events are on offer to celebrate the library’s fast approaching 100th birthday. On Wednesday 29 October, 7.30pm, I’m sharing the spotlight with Penelope Todd. We’re talking about our writing careers, how we began to write, where we get our ideas from and how we got into print. It'll be great to share our stories with Dunedin book lovers.

Next Festival Appearance

The Press Christchurch Writers Festival runs between 4 – 7 September and is jammed packed with national and international writers talking about wide-ranging topics. The Christchurch Book Festival Trust and The Press Christchurch Writers’ Festival Management Team’s theme for 2008 is ‘Getting between the Covers’. I certainly want to go to many of the sessions. I’m appearing on a panel with Mark Sarvas, Anya Ulinich and Christine Luenens on Friday 5 September, 1.30 – 2.45pm, in the Conference Room. Our session is entitled ‘It’s Not About Me – Or is it?’ Our Chair is Rachel King, current Ursula Bethell Writer in Residence at the University of Canterbury. Come along and join us!

‘Ribbons of Grace’ makes the shortlist for the Nielsen BookData NZ Booksellers’ Choice Award 2008

This award acknowledges the critical role booksellers play in supporting New Zealand writing and publishing. Our booksellers vote for the book they most enjoyed reading, selling and promoting over the last year. Contenders for the 2008 award include two novels and five non-fiction works. It’s a thrill to have my novel recognised in this way. I’m also delighted to be listed alongside the other six authors and their superb books.

The winner will be announced in Wellington at the 2008 Book Industry Awards and Conference Dinner on Sunday 20 July 2008.

Short Story on Radio National New Zealand

I’m a big fan of short fiction. I enjoy reading, writing and listening to short stories. My bookcases at home are lined with collections written by authors from a range of countries. I buy more short story collections than I do novels. One of my own stories is on radio this week. The following details were published on the web by Radio National.

Wednesday 2 July 2008
Stories Bodies Tell by Maxine Alterio
An embalmer with abandonment issues wrestles with how he’s going to tell the woman he loves what he does for a living, without scaring her off.
Read by Julian Wilson
Published by Vintage
ISBN Number: 1-86941-797-6
Episode 1 of 2

Thursday 3 July 2008
Stories Bodies Tell by Maxine Alterio
Episode 2 of 2

Yes, like my historical novel ‘Ribbons of Grace’, this contemporary short story is also set in Central Otago.

Enjoy!

Win a copy of 'Ribbons of Grace'

The current issue (19) of the fab magazine NZ Life and Leisure has 3 copies of Ribbons of Grace to give away. To enter the competition click www.nzlifeandleisure.co.nz/node/903

You might also want to pick up a copy of the magazine to read a feature article entitled ‘Ribbons of Memory’ in which I describe what inspired me to write this novel. Happy reading!