Care & Calling: Fleur Beale and Rachel Kerr

“A rich, funny, compassionate exploration of care and carelessness — this is a wonderful book — like its heroine, astute as hell and full of heart.” Emily Perkins on Victory Park by Rachel Kerr.

Fleur Beale’s latest novel The Calling is the story of Molly, a teenager with an ambition for care which leads her to the extraordinary nun Mother Mary Joseph Aubert. Rachel Kerr’s novel Victory Park, set in present-day Wellington, follows a warm-hearted solo mother who puts the needs of others first. Readers have widely praised both books for their portrayals of kindness, empathy and compassion. Sarah Forster speaks to both authors about what inspired their books and what crafting care and creating with care means for them.

Fleur Beale is the much-loved author of over 40 books for children and young adults, including I Am Not Esther and her latest, The Calling. Rachel Kerr’s first novel Victory Park won the Best First Book Award in the Fiction category at this year’s Ockham New Zealand Book Awards.