On the Road to the Christchurch Arts Residency

Fifi was a great roadie pal

2 August 2021

Earlier in the year I found out I had been awarded the Arts Centre Residency in Christchurch, starting August and finishing in October.  My good friend Fifi Colston suggested I take my car down. 

"Oh no, it's too long a drive," I said.

"I'll come with you," said Fifi, "it'll be fun!"

So, on Wednesday 28th July, I picked Fifi up from the airport and we first drove to Scholastic. We sat in Lynette's office, along with Penny and Abby, and had a wonderful time reminiscing about past and future books. While talking I admired the beautiful posters decorating the walls. Then I turned around and saw lots of posters from books that I had written.

"It's practically the Maria Gill wall," said Penny.

And it was, they had posters from most of the books I had published with Scholastic: Anzac Heroes, Anzac Animals, Kate Sheppard, Abel Tasman, and our latest Remarkable Animals from New Zealand and Australia. Fifi was delighted with the Yellow Digger and Marvellous Marvin posters and accessories.

National Army Museum

Then we were off, driving to Taupo. That night we had dinner with Donovan Bixley and his wife Jo, Tina Shaw and her husband, and Kathy White and her artist friend Ken. Fifi and I were thrilled to see Donovan's latest book and pored over it, while the waiters were placing our dishes in front of us.

The next day, we had morning tea with Fifi's delightfully mischievous mother, and then we were back on the road again. We stopped for a brief dip at thermal pools, signed books at the National Army Museum and arrived in Wellington late that afternoon.

Seals along the motorway

 

 

The next morning we caught the ferry across to Picton, took photographs of seals on the motorway down South, had blue cod fish for lunch in Kaikoura and drinks with Jenny Cooper and her partner at her gorgeous place in Amberley. Fifi had a sneak peek at Jenny's studio and we admired Jenny's stunning collection of artwork on her walls and shelves.

Kaikoura

 

 

 

 

For the next two nights we stayed at Fifi's wonderful mother-in-law's place. 

Saturday night we had dinner with Tania Roxborogh along with her hubby and friend. Her gorgeous dog tried to hug me. We thoroughly enjoyed talking books with Tania and hearing how passionate she is with her teaching.

Kathryn Mansfield House

Kathryn Mansfield's bike

Fifi left to travel to Nelson the next morning, and I drove to the Kate Sheppard House. What a stunning house - they've changed it into a museum to honour Kate Sheppard's memories. I listened to a talk from one of Kate's relatives, signed loads of my Kate Sheppard book, and bought some white camellias to brighten my residency room.

The Art Centre Residents

That afternoon I walked to the Arts Centre to get a feel for my new home. It has a cinema, bar, and museum around it ... and probably loads more, which I'll find out over the next few days.

The Arts Centre

The other art residents are all artists:  A J Fitzwater, a speculative fiction author; Matilda Fraser, a visual artist and art writer; Nathan Joe, a playwright, performance poet, theatre-maker and theatre critic; and me. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'll be writing a children's story about New Zealand's most famous scientist - Sir Ernest Rutherford. The Arts Centre has a Sir Ernest Rutherford replica den; I know I'll be spending lots of time there.

I'll give updates and dates while I'm here - I hope you'll come along with my journey.

 

My book for sale at the Kate Sheppard House

 

 

 

My latest book

Last month (February 2021) I had a brand new book out... New Zealand Disasters: Our response, resilience and recovery' illustrated by the talented Marco Ivancic and published by Scholastic. As well as revealing the historical, contemporary and just-happened incidents, the book includes what we've learned from the disasters. We wanted to give the book a positive slant. There's also tips on what to do if you're caught in a disaster, what to pack when evacuating, and how to recover. We've also included the important people who help us get through the disasters. Here's a couple of page spreads to show you how cool it is:

The text shows what it was like during the earthquake.

We also say what the country learned from each disaster.

In the Back Matter we showcase the First Responders and Essential Workers

There're also tips on how to Respond, Recover and be Resilient

The snazzy cover designed by Smartwork Creative.

Thanks to the team for helping make the book look so good. The Team: Marco Ivancic (illustrator); Lynette Evans (Scholastic publisher), Penny Scown (editor), Abby Haverkamp (admin), and Smartwork Creative (design team).

Teacher Notes here.

 

 

ISNB: 978-1-77543-621-8

RRP $30 (hardback)

 

Available from all good bookshops including:

The Dorothy Butler Bookshop (Auckland), The Children's Bookshop (Wellington)

 

Reviews here:

 

Booktrailers4kidsandYA 

 

KiwiReviewsNZ

 

BestFriendsAreBooks 

 

BobsBookBlog

 

Listen to some interviews on MariaGillChildrensBook Facebook Page.

 

New Titles since Kate Sheppard

Eek! I'm a little behind ... since 'Kate Sheppard: Leading the way for Women' I've had these books published:

This book shows the top five most endangered birds, insects, fish, mammals, reptiles, etc

Inside picture 'On the Brink' by Terry Fitzgibbon

'Ice Breaker!' came out in February 2020

Inside illustrations by Alistair Hughes

This year I'm doing a Masters in Creative Writing with AUT. I'm working on a creative nonfiction novel. James George has been my tutor and he's been great! I'm looking forward to reading the other 10 participants' stories when they're finished. Their stories range from poetry, to short stories, to junior fiction and young adult novels, and a memoir.

Next year I have two books coming out with Scholastic so watch this space ... One of them was supposed to come out in August but because of the pandemic, we've delayed it until February 2021. It's called 'New Zealand Disasters and How we Respond' with Marco Ivancic's stunning illustrations. I'll reveal a cover soon.

The second book comes out later. I finished writing it in February and currently chasing up photographs. All I'll tell you at this stage is that it has to do with animals and we've got a totally different style of artwork in the book.  But I'll keep you in suspense a little while longer for this one.

Launch of Kate Sheppard: Leading the way for Women book

Commemorating 125 years since New Zealand women for the first time!

Maria Gill dressed in Kate Sheppard-like clothes 

New Book Out for Maria Gill

Following on from the success of 'Eruption! Discovering New Zealand Volcanoes' - still in print after three reprints - Maria Gill and New Holland Publishers have just released 'Earthquakes! Shaking New Zealand'.

'Earthquakes: Shaking New Zealand'  helps young readers 8-12 years old learn what to do in an earthquake, understand why New Zealand has so many, and find out what happened in New Zealand's eight biggest earthquakes. Written and designed to capture its young audience, it has many photographs, a Māori God that pops up in text boxes, interactive symbols, a tongue-in-cheek multi-choice questionnaire, a timeline that runs throughout the book, and lots more.

Available in shops the first week in June 2018.

See an interview with Maria here.

More information on its web page here.

ISBN: 9781869664862
RRP $24.99

Winning Team Releases Anzac Animals book

PRESS RELEASE FROM SCHOLASTIC NEW ZEALAND

The winning author/illustrator duo that claimed the supreme children’s book award in 2016 – the Margaret Mahy Book of the Year prize – has again teamed up with publisher Scholastic New Zealand and designer Luke Kelly to produce a follow-up to the award-winning Anzac Heroes. This time they’ve written and illustrated a book about the animals that went to war.

Well-known children’s author Maria Gill and talented illustrator Marco Ivančić have proven they can do it again. Publishing Manager Lynette Evans says that Scholastic New Zealand couldn’t be happier with the response to the book from those who have already seen it. “Maria and Marco are a talented and unstoppable match. Maria’s meticulously researched text combines perfectly with the energy in Marco’s highly realistic illustrations to bring history to life in full colour and absorbing detail. We are privileged to partner with them in creating these timeless and information-loaded books for children.”

Anzac Animals includes the heartwarming stories of the mascots and working animals that helped the Anzacs during World War I and World War II. “There’s a mixture of the sad, funny, and awe-inspiring stories about the animals that went to war,” says Gill. “The tales show how much the animals meant to the Anzacs, and the lengths they would go to save their charges. I picked a wide range of animals, from kangaroos, cats, monkeys, a tortoise and a chicken, to dogs, horses, mules, donkeys, camels and pigeons. Some were found in the battle zones, others purchased from locals, and quite a few brought from home. They all made a difference to the men’s lives and helped them endure the war.” Girls and boys will enjoy reading the captivating stories, as well as poring over the stunning illustrations, photographs and graphics.

With 2018 being the final 100-year commemorations for World War I, the book is a compassionate note to end the anniversary. Gill is touring with Storylines to Christchurch schools from 12-16 March, with Duffy Books to Rotorua schools from 19-23 March, and giving workshops to local schools at the National Army Museum and then onto Napier Schools in the final week of March, including a book launch at Wardini’s Bookshop in Napier at 4pm on Wednesday 28 March.

Media enquiries:

Sophia Broom, Scholastic NZ

sbroom@scholastic.co.nz

+64 9 968 9832

 

Ends