Nat Baker

And, I love loved ‘Northbound’ by @naomiarnold.bsky.social 🥂 Thanks to this gorgeous book I am now piecing together the length of the country a week a year each November (yes, it’s gonna take some time…). Read it, you’ll love it. Be inspired and horrified, too x

We’ve nearly made it through January - well done everyone. February’s gonna be wild.

Jacinda Ardern longlisted for this year’s Ockham New Zealand Book Awards Four categories, 44 books, zero AI book covers.

Congratulations to all who made the long-list and a special shout out to my talented pal Mark Forman for his amazing, novelistic biography of Tony Fomison. Y’all should read it, it’s captivating 🫶🥳🤗

thespinoff.co.nz/books/29-01-...

January Film Club (with super work colleagues) was a hoot and a shocker. Talk about a twist, and now, keen to read the book also 🙌

And I yours! 🙀🫶

And @ricardaonz.bsky.social for super sweet “in progress” updates 😉💕

With special thanks to @josieshapiro.bsky.social for early reading (always xx)

DELIGHTED to be included as a summer fiction writer for NZ Listener 🥳🙏 A wonderful way to start 2026, and in such fine company, esp @antzlapwood.bsky.social 🥂🥰

Thanks to @literaryhub.bsky.social for highlighting CLUTCH as one of its 2026 most anticipated books! It's hard to believe that my novel is out in just four weeks. Preorders are open and much appreciated! @tinhouse.bsky.social @zandoprojects.bsky.social
emilynemens.com/books/

Random fiction writing thought:

“Raising the stakes“ is rarely “increasing the scope of the threat“ and is almost* always “deepening the character’s emotions.”

*Maybe not almost. Maybe just always.

Happy new year! We're now open for fiction collections. The most recently published book from this list, Show Me Where the Hurt Is b @haydenmcasey13.bsky.social, was recently longlisted for the PEN/Bingham award. Could YOU be next? Dust off that manuscript, and send it to us!!!

Oh! I need to go find a copy. Thank you for reading (and the wee updates along the way… loved them 🙏💕) HNY Richard 🥂✨

Happy New Year All, wishing you a wonderful year ahead 🥂✨

The Aunties Christmas Appeal Your donation to the Aunties this Christmas 2026 will help us to provide Christmas to over 113 children/grandchildren of Aunties Whānau.

For anyone in Aotearoa looking for a worthwhile cause to make a Christmas donation to, please consider the Aunties Christmas appeal. Any contribution is gratefully received. #kikorangi #nzpol givealittle.co.nz/cause/the-au...

Everything is on fire, but everyone I love is doing beautiful things and trying to make life worth living, and I know I don't have to believe in everything, but I believe in that. - Nikita Gill

Take care today team.

One of the many reasons AI can't produce good writing is it can't hate its own writing. It can't think to itself "Maybe I'm illiterate" during the writing process. And that's essential

Hey, it's Cozy Up with Fantasy!

TODAY ONLY (December 12, 2025), you can get more than 70 (!) cozy fantasy books, from all different authors, for only 99 cents.

It includes my yarn shop/witchy sapphic romance Spellcasting On.

You can find all the books at:
www.cozyupwithfantasy.com

Male colleagues caught in a ‘must have last word infinity loop’
Bring on Christmas 🎄

I sometimes think of scenes I know exist but haven't written yet as rooms I'm struggling to reach. Today I walked into a room I first glimpsed two years ago, and finally witnessed the scene I knew would happen there, a moment a long time coming that did not prevent it from unfolding into surprise.

Is it Bandcamp Friday? Is it?

It's Bandcamp Friday! meaning if you buy music on Bandcamp in the next 24 hours, 100% of the money goes to the artist.

I'm grabbing one of the Fu Manchu albums that's missing from my collection

isitbandcampfriday.com

Blue tile with text that says: Measles end of year update.

1/2 Measles outbreak in NZ is not under control. Cases continue to pop up across the country, risk of community transmission high. Measles is highly contagious - please check your immunity before summer travel.
✅ Born after 1969? You need 2 MMR doses.
📞 Symptoms? Call Healthline: 0800 611 116.

… the most dangerous/delightful thing about COUNTING DOWN to the end of the working year is all the amazing books I can’t wait to read… what are you reading this holiday season? 📚💫✨💕

Only a couple days left to apply!

Kick off 2026 with a short fiction fix 😎

‘We are calling for essays from young people campaigning for a more equitable, sustainable and compassionate world.’ Writers under 25 are eligible - deadline 27 March.

Applications are open for the 2026 Penguin Random House Māori and Pacific Publishing Scholarship. Deadline 31 January 2026 (and expressions of interest in the course itself should be made by early December).https://authors.org.nz/call-for-applications-for-maori-and-pacific-publishing-scholarship/

Day two. Loving the cheeky Weka 🐤

Beautiful Day One on the Queen Charlotte Track 🫶

‘We sent the kids home. Then all our cellphones went out’ – This is climate breakdown When the Maui fires ripped through Hawaii, the community came together. For everyone it was a life-changing experience. This is Ryan’s story

Please read, an incredibly important, sobering and moving account of the future, happening now: www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Love it! I think my friend and I might have to do TA Pokémon style, collecting them up over the years. Thanks for your amazing book.

Queen Charlotte (a walk for non-walkers, to be sure, but still looking forward!)