For independent authors, writing the book is only half the challenge. The hardest part can be helping the right readers discover it.
But now self-published authors in New Zealand have affordable marketing options to help get their books noticed.
A new partnership between Jodie Beach of First Applause and Lesley Webb of Indie Books has been developed, with the shared goal of increasing visibility for local independent authors and their books…
Kāpiti Coast artist Roly Hermans picked up the paintbrush when he retired in 2021. In doing so, he discovered a niche in the New Zealand art industry: heritage transport art.
“When I first started painting after I retired, I did as many people do, and began with landscapes. But I quickly found that I enjoyed painting the vehicles and vessels in these pictures more than the landscapes themselves,” Roly said.
A novel published in April this year has already reached milestones that many self-published authors can spend years working towards.
Fuelled by the wish to write the kind of fantasy story she hunted for on library shelves as a teenager, author Christina Woods wrote debut novel Miasma. It’s a standalone YA fantasy about a girl overcoming trauma and learning to face her fears head-on.
“I wrote the very first rough draft for Miasma during a really challenging time in my life when I was out of work due to Covid,” Christina said.
After five years of self-doubt and fitting writing around her full-time work, she finally dedicated the time to finish the novel…
One day Smoky was there, and the next he was gone… What happens when a man disappears and the people closest to him seem strangely unwilling to search for him?
New Zealand mystery-thriller SMOKY deserves attention as one of the most intriguing debut feature films currently emerging from Aotearoa’s independent film scene. Writer-director James Fink-Jensen began developing the project in 2025, and is already gaining international recognition having been shortlisted for the Young Director Award in Cannes for Best First Feature Film…
I love stories about people making their dreams come true. Acoustic Indie/Rock musician Khellsey-Anna of Invercargill was determined to make and release an album before the age of 30.
At 28, she’d done it.
A women’s health nurse by day, Khellsey was previously part of successful covers band Euphoria for six years, playing at pubs and events by night and weekends.
Despite their success, original music never really stopped calling her back…
If you’ve ever wanted to make a feature film but didn’t have the funds, cast, time, crew or previous feature filmmaking experience… This is your sign to do it anyway.
BoddyBag presents Haven – a gory, dark comedy, whodunnit feature film.
The idea was planned out in a three-hour car journey.
Written within three weeks.
100 pages shot within 10 days.
The whole project is expected to be completed within 12 months from conception.
With the author’s meditative voice, You Won’t Just Cry When They Die by Elizabeth Deacle is an audiobook that gave me the warm hug I didn’t know I needed.
This book is a collection of 101 messages for those navigating through the world of heart-shattering loss. Each chapter presents a gentle acknowledgement of the reader’s pain, with encouragement for them to take the next step.
I felt like each of these messages is like a wrung on a ladder, allowing the reader the opportunity to slowly climb out of their hiding place.
“Let out an almighty breath. Bellow, boom, roar, scream. Released what is begging to be released.”
Sponsored Article A beautiful walk through the life of poet Mark Anthony Thomas; In Need of Seawater. It’s an absolute treat of a short film for any poetry lover. “When I was 21 I wanted to reflect on life, so I started working on my second book called The Poetic Repercussion,” Mark begins. “Everything IContinue reading “In Need of Seawater – Documentary Short Film”
Sponsored Article “Make stuff that is fun, make stuff that can impact someone in a good way, make stuff that is ridiculous, be curious in others and everyday things outside of what you know.”– Julia Boddy // Actor Julia and James Boddy are New Zealand’s hidden filmmaking gems who have recently returned to our shoresContinue reading “Boddybag: The Creative Kiwi Duo Bringing Joy Back to Film Sets”
At just 19, Auckland-based singer-songwriter Saem Millward is busking his way into New Zealand’s music industry.
Originally from Palmerston North, Saem’s musical story began at age 13 when he sat down at a keyboard, picking up melodies by ear before moving into classical piano lessons.
High school brought a new chapter. Inspired by watching the school choir perform, he joined them before auditioning and landing a spot in the 2023-24 New Zealand Secondary Students Choir…
“Inspiration comes from my belief that anything can be creative, and is.” – Simon Byrne.
Saxophonist Simon Byrne recently made the leap from Britain to start a new life in Wellington.
Completing a Law degree in a previous life, Byrne’s calling has always been music. Using hospitality roles as a way to explore and perform his way around New Zealand, he is now committed to making music his main work source…
When life took a turn in 2019, 40-year-old Kiwi builder and designer Geoff Kunac picked up a guitar.
Six months later, he had nearly enough songs for a whole album.
“I think for lack of anything better to do more than anything else,” Geoff says. “It became my cathartic diary or voice, as I was silently watching my life simultaneously fall apart around me.”
Geoff of Martinborough didn’t come from a background of music. Teenage memories of messing around on the family’s piano, dropping out of guitar lessons at school, and listening to his older sister’s CDs and mixed tapes were the extent of his music experience…
The grief of heartbreak is both a unique and universally relatable theme explored in the short film Lasting Flames. It perceives break-ups as a grieving process; mourning someone who is still alive.
Written and directed by Federica Alice Carlino – recently recognised as the most awarded director under 35 – Lasting Flames is a deeply personal project that almost wasn’t pursued.
“I wrote this project based on a very personal feeling and experience. It took me a while to decide whether or not to produce this short, as it came from a deep emotional place,” Carlino said.
“Failure is when you’re trying to please everybody… Just do you, and you only.”
Alternative Grime is a genre of music that was previously unknown to me.
But far from the rough-around-the-edges rappers with flabby and hollowly aggressive rhymes, is word wizard Ricardo Marinoni.
Marinoni is the well-presented, self-assured and lyrically talented front man of CHOZE.
Based at ODEON cinemas across the UK, an exciting service has become available: Hire a cinema. All to yourself. I knew cinema hire was a thing for large private screenings or elaborate Hen Do’s, but I thought that was only by special request and at great expense. I definitely didn’t know it was a sparklyContinue reading “Private Cinema Hire: Another Look at the Classics”
I love being sent new talent to watch!
Shayla Tharp is an actor who hails from Iowa, USA and is currently living in London.
Former personal assistant to comedic actress Kristen Johnston, Tharp has spread her wings and pursuing her own acting path.
In the short that I watched of Tharp playing her interpretation of Annie Wilkes from the 1980 horror Misery, her confidence held my attention. Her ability to channel Wilkes’ characteristics without copying Kathy Bates’ performance was unreal…
Mark Anthony Thomas is an economic development official in Baltimore, Maryland. However, he has an extensive creative background in writing. Thomas is a published poet and has recently released a short film documenting a live reading of his original poetry.
Folded Whispers is performed in Kelly Strayhorn Theater to friends and members of the Pittsburgh community. It captures a collection of his work that covers love, loss, race, identity, urbanisation and the pandemic…