Page 63 - Auckland Writers Festival

SAM ORCHARD nEW zEALAnD
Sam Orchard is a queer transman who’s been drawing comics since he was a little girl. He draws an autobio webcomic called Rooster Tails, and has recently published the first three issues of Family Portraits – a collection of short comics about different queer and trans New Zealanders. roostertailscomic.com
@Sam-Orchard
JEnnY pALMER nEW zEALAnD
Poet and artist Jenny Palmer runs A Little Ink, producing poetry and picture art for young people. She released her first book, A Little ABC Book, in 2014 and regularly tours libraries and preschool centres engaging children with rhythm andrhyme. alittleink.co.nz
MARY pETERS nEW zEALAnD
Mary Peters became a Judge of the High Court, New Zealand in 2010. She began practising law in 1985, working overseas for several years before returning to New Zealand in 1995 and was a partner in Russell McVeagh beforegoingtotheBarin2004.
DAV pILkEY / CApTAIn unDERpAnTS unITED STATES
Dav Pilkey is one of the world’s bestselling writers and illustrators for children. His Captain Underpants series has sold over 70 million copies worldwide. Pilkey is also the creator of numerous other popular series including Adventures of Super Diaper Baby, Adventures of Ook and Gluk, and Ricky Ricotta and the Dumb Bunnies. pilkey.com
MARGARET pOInTER nEW zEALAnD
History and geography teacher Margaret Pointer was inspired
to document the history of Niue
after living there in the 1990s with her husband who was NZ High Commissioner. The ground-breaking result is newly published Niue 1774-1974 forwhichshereceivedaCopyright Licensing NZ award in 2013.
zIA HAIDER RAHMAn BAnGLADESH / EnGLAnD
Zia Haider Rahman was born in Bangladesh, educated in the UK, Germany and the US, and has worked as a Wall Street banker and as an international human-rights lawyer. His debut novel, In The Light of What WeKnow(2014)waspublished
to international critical acclaim.
Supported by Platinum Patrons Erika & Robin Congreve. @Ziahaiderrahman
BILL RALSTOn nEW zEALAnD
Bill Ralston has been a journalist and broadcaster in television, radio, print and online, including as news and current affairs head at Television New Zealand and as editor of Metro. He currently runs a communications company and writes a column for the New Zealand Listener.
@BillyRalston
REnÉE nEW zEALAnD
Feminist playwright, memoirist, poet, blogger and novelist Renée is one of this country’s foremost social history documenters, in work including seminal plays Setting the Table (1981) and Wednesday to Come (1985). She is currently writing a trilogy of novels and publishes a chapter a week on WednesdayBusk.com
pATRICk REYnOLDS nEW zEALAnD
Patrick Reynolds teaches at The University of Auckland’s School of Architecture and blogs on urban planning website transportblog. co.nz. He is one of this country’s leading architecture and visual art photographers and an exhibiting artist. patrickreynolds.co.nz @pv_reynolds
63