Books & Authors

A year ago we spoke to one of the founders of a new online fashion and beauty magazine called Ensemble. Today they've announced they have been acquired by Stuff Ensemble co-founder Zoe Walker Ahwa… Audio

Louise O'Brien reviews The Piano Girls by Elizabeth Smither, published by Quentin Wilson Publishing. Audio

The emerging author HG Parry writes complex and engaging fantasy novels. She talks to Lynn Freeman about reinventing the 18th century in this highlight of 2021's Dunedin Writers Festival. Audio

Ben Rhodes was a speechwriter, national security adviser, and right-hand man to US President Barack Obama for eight years. Following his time in the White House, Rhodes wrote an insider account… Audio

Kim Pittar from Muir's Independent Bookshop Gisborne reviews Moth by Melody Razak, published by Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand. Audio

A famous kiwi short story 'Coming Home In the Dark' by Owen Marshall is appearing on screens next week as a feature film of the same name. It's based on the titular story of New Zealand short Story… Audio

Catriona Ferguson reviews Mrs March by Virginia Feito, published by HarperCollins. Audio

We discuss life and strange stories with Jack Remiel Cottrell and his new flash fiction collection called Ten Acceptable Acts of Arson and other very short stories. Audio

Kiran Dass reviews The Foghorn's Lament: The Disappearing Music of the Coast by Jennifer Lucy Allan, published by White Rabbit. Audio

New Statesman deputy editor Tom Gatti asks 50 great writers to share their stories in his new book, Long Players: Writers on the Albums that Shaped them. Audio

For today's How To Write, our very own Perlina Lau talks to Jesse about how to write a fictional television series script. Audio

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the controversial Springbok rugby tour that divided the country, and a new book is helping young New Zealanders to understand the issues that made it so… Audio

Stella Chrysostomou of Volume Books in Nelson reviews Great Works by Oscar Mardell, published by Death of Workers Whilst Building Skyscrapers. Stella says: Oscar Mardell is an Auckland poet whose… Audio

More and more research suggests empathy and kindness can predict long-term success better than academic scores. Teach a child to be kind, says science journalist Melinda Wenner Moyer, and you get an… Audio

Louise Ward of Wardini Books reviews The Memory Thief by Leonie Agnew, published by Penguin Random House NZ. Audio

Poems about farm life - both the harsh realities and the simple joys of living off the land - are found in a new poetry collection by Horowhenua farmer Janet Newman. Unseasoned Campaigner touches on… Audio

Playwright and director Shriya Bhagwat is tackling the taboo topic of sex in the South Asian community in her first full-length play The Kamasutra Chronicles. The premise is simple: can the Kamasutra… Audio

Ash Davida Jane from Unity Books Wellington reviews Wild Souls: Freedom and Flourishing in the Non-Human World by Emma Marris, published by Bloomsbury USA. Audio