Academic, translator and VUW neighbour, Dr Karena Kelly, sat down with us during Te Wiki o te Reo Māori to chat about her passion for engaging with te reo Māori in her teaching practices and translation projects. Her latest book in translation is Mā Wai e Hautū Who’s Driving published by Gecko Press.
This week we asked Hanifa from VicMuslims a few questions about her role as Vice President of Communications, who inspires her, and what her club does around campus!
This week we were lucky enough to chat with Sara McIntyre, the photographer behind Observations of a Rural Nurse, which quickly sold out of its first print run and is being reprinted. She talked about what drives her photography process, what impact her career as a nurse has had on her art, and what it was like to publish her first book!
This week we got to ask a few questions to the delightful Sam Coley, whose debut novel State Highway One is out now! Sam gives insight into his writing and reading process, why the details matter, and what it’s like trying to find and understand the idea of home.
For National Poetry Day we talked to Kōtuku Titihuia Nuttall, editor of Saltwater Love Zine and MA student at the International Institute of Modern Letters. She selected a few poems from Saltwater Love to display in the shop for National Poetry Day and answered a few questions whilst she was at it!
Ahead of the NZ Book Awards for Children & Young Adults winners announcement this evening, we caught up with poet, scholar, and former poet laureate Selina Tusitala Marsh about Mophead, being a ‘doodler, and HEART-led stories.
Coffee Supreme supplies our cafes with supremely good coffee year round, so this week we decided to sit down with a cup of soft brew and Douglas Johns from Coffee Supreme to chat about designing for the seasonal Vic Books blend, setting up shop in Japan, and the rewarding nature of working with coffee.
Ahead of the NZ Book Awards for Children & Young Adults announcement on August 12th, we caught up with Damien Wilkins: novelist, poet, musician, and Director of the International Institute of Modern Letters here at Victoria. Damien talks book buying habits, dipping a toe into the world of children’s publishing, and New Zealand’s writing workshop culture.
H. G. Parry stopped in to chat with us this week, ahead of her signing at Vic Books this Thursday. She spilled the tea on her literary heroes, what it’s like to be a full-time writer, and the perks of being an internationally published fantasy novelist.
To celebrate teaming up with local botanical designers Twig & Arrow this week, we decided to get to know senior florist, stylist and instructor Mindy Dalzell. Twig & Arrow is a mother-daughter team, Mindy and daughter, Gretta. We found out what inspires their stunning, lush creations, what their floral design workshops offer, and why flowers are an essential for any space.
Pip Adam, author, workshop facilitator, Acorn Foundation Fiction Prize winner, and vegan quiche extraordinaire, sat down with us this week to chat about what things have been like since the release of her latest novel Nothing to See. Over a Libertine Kapow tea, Pip fills us in on writing with care, what excites her in contemporary literature and some of her current favourite reads.
This week we’re celebrating mid-winter Christmas by chatting to Pania Tahau-Hodges and Bryony Walker from HUIA Publishers, who have collaborated on Santa’s Worst Christmas, a finalist in the NZ Book Awards for Children & Young Adults and an instant whānau classic. Pania and Bryony talk about collaborative writing, working in publishing, and the growing scope of Māori literature.
This week we switched seats and interviewed Maggie Tweedie, the Breakfast Host of Radioactive.fm, Wellington’s leading alternative radio station and home to Vic Books weekly morning book reviews! She let us in on her all time favourite segments and guests on the show, her dream podcast project and what’s on her bookshelf at the moment.
How lucky are we having Emily Perkins on campus! Author, playwright, and Senior Lecturer at the International Institute of Modern Letters, Emily is also a Vic Books alumni.Emily spoke to us this week about the differences between writing fiction and writing for the stage, what she’s reading right now, and how her past informs her practice.
This week Max Rashbrooke graciously agreed to chat with us online about his latest work as the 2020 JD Stout Fellow at Victoria University, the Inequality Calculator, and cautious optimism. Max is a journalist, academic, and author tackling economic inequality in New Zealand — and looking towards democratic renewal in the future. Bridget Williams Books has published several of Max’s titles, including The Inequality Debate: An Introduction and Government for the Public Good.
This week is Vaiaso o le Gagana Samoa / Samoan Language Week and we were lucky enough to catch up over a caffe latte with Luamanuvao Dame Winnie Laban, Assistant Vice Chancellor (Pasifika) here at the University. Former Member of Parliament and Labour Party spokesperson for Pacific Island Affairs, we chatted to Dame Winnie about her future plans for Pasifika students here at VUW, her passion for education and the benefits of bilingual reading.
As part of Kate's 100 Day Project, the talented illustrator has showcased some of the capitol's best-loved cafes, retailers and hot spots on Insta during lockdown. We sat down with Kate and her gorgeous illustrations to talk about how she's kept us all connected to our favourite Wellington hangs without having to break our bubbles.
The star of this week's Journal interview is Claire Mabey, Director of Verb Wellington. As well as being at the heart of the capital's literati, she's a voracious reader, a mum and a Pisces. We chatted to Claire about what comes next for literary festivals, her love of storytelling and why she always champions the red-haired heroine.
Julia Marshall, of award-winning Wellington kids book publisher, Gecko Press, chatted with us online. She shares the winning formula behind her 'curiously good books' for kids, her favourite reads and why her literary heroine, Pippi Longstocking, would ace lockdown life.
You know him as our charismatic storyteller who entertains our younger readers at Storytime, but he's also a top-notch New Zealand journalist. Baz Macdonald chatted about his talent for storytelling, his favourite kids books and his idea of chicken soup for the soul.
Harry Ricketts, author, poet, academic and Vic Books regular, chatted with us online - in between navigating "the unstable backwaters of Zoomland". He talks to us about sitcoms and acting, Bob Dylan and Jane Austen and how he loves a literary happy ending.
The extremely talented designer and illustrator, Phoebe Morris chatted with us online to talk about her latest publications, her career and what she's been up to during lockdown (just casually writing, illustrating and self-publishing a children's book).
Tayi Tibble, poet, writer and all-round boss, sat down with us (via the wonders of the internet) to talk about how she’s dealing with isolation, reflect on some scarily accurate predictions, and to describe what her ideal post-COVID-19 world looks like.
In February of this year, Juliet Blyth, our General Manager of two decades left to take on the task of getting New Zealanders to read more. We sat down with her to reflect on her years at Vic Books, talk about how we’ve changed with the times, and what she’s up to now.
