Renee Liang

Poet, playwright, short story writer, essayist

Where I’m available to help mentor you: Online only (by Zoom).

I’m a multigenre, award-winning NZ writer. I’ve been fascinated by words and narrative for as long as I can remember. Ideas bubble up and then I can’t rest until I’ve worked out a way to get my story to a stage where I can share it. Each form (poetry, fiction, non fiction) is like a different tool in a toolbox: I use the tool that fits what the story needs.  I started as a poet, performing live, then moved to theatre where the playwright is just one part of a joyful collaborative enterprise. Since then I’ve also worked on musical narratives including opera and musicals. I’ve also mentored, taught and run workshops in writing for years. Although I’m based in Auckland currently, I love living in Northland when work brings me here.

I love exploring worlds through specific cultural lenses (mine is Cantonese NZer, but I’ll help you explore yours). I’m really interested in supporting people who are crossing borders in some way. That’s when writing is sometimes necessary, and maybe when it’s most helpful to have a guide. 

You can check out my work here: https://www.read-nz.org/writer/liang-renee/

The type of person I’m the best match for mentoring is someone who prefers to meet virtually (as I am based out of town).

You’ll probably enjoy working with me if you’re curious, able to ask questions about yourself and what you want, take on feedback, and ask me some questions in return.  I am happy to work on poetry, short fiction, short non fiction or short plays.  I can’t help you with book length works but can help you work on pieces towards publication, competitions or a collection.

Contact: docrnz@gmail.com

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Jenny Purchase (J C L Purchase)

Multidisciplinary Writer – Editor, and teacher

Where I’m available to help mentor you: Only online per Zoom (as I live in an out-of-the-way location).  

Member of NZ Society of Authors 

Author of Transit Lounge, a collection of short stories available at Whangarei bookstores including Paper Plus, Book Inn and The Piggery.

I was raised in Zambia and educated in South Africa. I immigrated to Aotearoa New Zealand in 1998. I’m a senior secondary teacher of English, ESOL and French but have also taught a variety of subjects in the tertiary education sector. In addition to a postgraduate teaching diploma I have a postgraduate diploma in communications. I consider myself a multidisciplinary writer, having produced teaching/learning resources, assessment materials, a huge range of business and promotional documents, poetry, prose, academic essays, articles and reviews. 

Since completing a masters degree in creative writing I have published short stories and worked as a script writer and producer on short film projects. I am currently writing a historical novel set in pre-apartheid South Africa and collecting prose, poetry and essay for an anthology on solo parenthood. I am also working on a hybrid memoir of my life and times. 

Some of my short fiction appears in anthologies and online but many of my stories are collected in my recent debut, Transit Lounge, available from bookstores and online retailers. 

The type of person I’m the best match for mentoring is anyone with an interest in creative writing and life writing, excepting poetry. I am also not suited to mentor a YA, fantasy, sci-fi or alternative genre writer.  

You’ll probably enjoy working with me if language is your passion and you enjoy crafting sentences and creating small worlds which leave a lasting impression.  

If you would like to contact me directly, email me at jen-b@xtra.co.nz 

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Janine Williams

Fiction author / novelist

Where I’m available to help mentor you: Whangārei or online

I’m a junior fiction author. I write YA historical fiction, with one book published so far, which was a Storylines Notable book award winner in 2022. I have a degree in English literature, and I love to learn, so I’m always doing some kind of writing course. I did Te Reo Maori at school, at Uni, and also with Te Wananga O Aotearoa in Whangarei. In 2019 I won the Janice Marriott Mentoring Award through Storylines NZ, so I’ve experienced being a mentee. I’m a good listener and I love to see young people achieving their goals.

Website – www.jlwilliamsauthor.com

Facebook – facebook.com/jwilliamswriter

Instagram – instagram.com/jwilliamswriter

Janine’s book Holding the Horse is available at Whangarei bookstores including Paper Plus, Book Inn and The Piggery.

The type of person I’m the best match for mentoring is: Anyone wanting to work on a novel. I’m not so great with poetry or short stories. 

You’ll probably enjoy working with me if you write junior fiction, historical fiction or mystery/crime.

If you would like to contact me directly, email me at jwilliamswriter@gmail.com

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Jody Reynolds

Tragicomic Fiction Author

Available to mentor: Online and potentially in person in Whangārei or Dargaville.

I was born and raised in Whangarei. After studying Design at the University of Otago and then spending several years living and working in Vancouver, Central Otago and Brisbane, I returned to Te Tai Tokerau to raise children and chickens. I’m an Indie Author and high-school Media Studies/English teacher. I’ve been publishing my stories digitally and developing my author brand since 2016 and have now published one novel, called Taking the Plunge (also available in paperback), and several short stories. I’m currently working on the final drafts of my second novel, called Staking a Claim, to be published in 2023.

I love working with young people and I’m passionate about helping to foster the creative energy and talent that is abundant in the youth of Te Tai Tokerau.

You can check out my books and read a preview of all my published stories at jbreynolds.net
See all the places where my books are available at books2read.com/ap/8GgBW8/JB-Reynolds.

The type of person I’m the best mentor match for is:

• Someone in the early stages of their writing journey and/or
• Someone interested in digital publishing and/or
• Someone wanting to create an author website and/or mailing list.

You’ll probably enjoy working with me if you’re a high-school student and/or interested in publishing digitally.

If you would like to contact me directly, please email jody@jbreynolds.net

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Catherine Lea

Bestselling crime novelist

Available to mentor: Bay of Islands, remotely, phone and email

Catherine Lea is author of the popular Elizabeth McClaine series of thrillers and several standalone novels set in the USA. She was short-listed for the Katherine Mansfield Award with a short story consisting entirely of dialogue. Before COVID, she travelled to the States every second year to attend the Bouchercon World Mystery Convention for Readers and Writers of crime, mystery and suspense.

Catherine lives in the Bay of Islands with a fox terrier that thinks he owns the house. She has sold international satellite capacity, worked in IT recruitment and run her own communications store. Her latest detective thriller, The Water’s Dead, is a bestseller and is available at Whitcoulls.

Email cealarenne@gmail.com

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Michael Botur

Short story specialist, novelist, award-winning flash fiction writer.

Where I’m available to mentor: Whangārei and online. Some capacity to visit smaller Northland towns.

Buy his books at: Paper Plus Whangarei, The Piggery bookshop, Book Inn Kamo

Michael Botur, born 1984 in Christchurch, New Zealand, is the author of seven acclaimed short story collections, five novels, ‘page and pub poetry’ collection Loudmouth and the children’s book My Animal Family. He has won awards for short fiction in the US, Australia and New Zealand. Botur has published journalism in most major newspapers and magazines in New Zealand and is concentrating on screenwriting, horror fiction and novels in 2023. He lives in Whangarei with his two kids.
Mike holds a Masters Degree in Creative Writing from AUT University and a Graduate Diploma in Journalism Studies from Massey University, as well as degrees in arts and literacy.
Mike has published creative writing in most NZ literary journals and has won various prizes for short stories and poems since beginning writing in 2005. He has been making money from creative writing since the age of 21 and in 2017/18 was included in collections put together by University of Otago (Manifesto 101) and University of Canterbury (Bonsai: Small Fictions).
Mike has published news articles in VICE World News, the Listener, New Zealand Herald, Herald on Sunday, Sunday Star-Times, The Spinoff, Noted, Mana and North & South. In 2017 Mike launched the only online ‘gallery’ for NZ short story writers, http://www.NZShortStories.com.
In 2021 Botur was the first Kiwi winner of the Australasian Horror Writers Association Short Story Award for ‘Test of Death.’

Read Mike’s Goodreads page for further info https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7156775.Michael_Botur

The type of person I’m the best mentor match for is:

• Probably males, as males are slightly underrepresented in NZ creative writing
• I have a particular interest in helping people with performance poetry, rap, or ‘dirty realism’ ie. Writing about gritty things
• No age limits, I don’t mind working with anyone age 14-100

You’ll probably enjoy working with me if you gravitate towards provocative/spicy/edgy/gritty drama – Crime, horror, short fiction, writing by poor people for poor people.

Contact: mike@michaelboturwriter.com / 021 299 0984

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Andi Podesta

Playwright

Where I’m available to mentor: Whangarei, online (Zoom) or by email.

Location – North of Whangarei

I began writing plays in 2011. My first play won the Playwrights Association of New Zealand (PANZ) full length play competition with ‘The Blue Horse’ or retitled ‘Mot’. In 2014 my musical ‘Give it a Whirl’ was shortlisted in Playmarket’s ‘Plays for the Young’ and in 2017 my short play ‘Stuck’ came second in the PANZ (short play) competition. I enjoy, and find it easy to write dialogue, I think that comes from being a good listener.
I began my path as a writer by volunteering my time typing for a historian, this is where I got my inspiration for my first play. In fact, history remains a passion for me.
I’d love to help guide you to writing a play that packs some punch. New Zealand is needing more playwrights! It could even be your stepping stone to screenwriting.
The type of person I’m the best match for mentoring is: Anyone with the drive to get their dream of being a playwright or screenwriter on track. Someone new to playwriting, or the more experienced but wanting feedback.

Contact: andipods@gmail.com

Facebook – Andi Podesta – writer

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More mentors will be added during 2023.