Adventures for Middle Grade Readers

Rachael King’s new middle grade novel The Grimmelings is a spellbinding fantasy adventure of loyalty, courage, and being careful what you wish for. Set in the South Island’s high country, with a creature from Scottish folklore sitting uneasily in the landscape, it explores family, grief, language and neurodiversity, and engages with environmental themes. Rachael discusses writing stories for young New Zealanders set in their own world with Sparkhunter author and broadcaster Sonya Wilson. When buying an adult ticket for this event we will give you a child's ticket for free.

Rachael King is a well-known New Zealand writer, reviewer, former literary festival director and ex-bass player. She is the author of Red Rocks, a novel for children which won the Esther Glen Medal in 2013 and is currently in development for television. She has written two adult novels, which have been published in nine different languages. Rachael was the programme director of the WORD Christchurch Festival for eight years. She received a special award from the New Zealand Society of Authors for her role in securing the freedom of exiled Kurdish writer Behrouz Boochani and in 2023 was named Best Reviewer at the Voyager New Zealand Media Awards.

Sonya Wilson is an author, journalist, and the founder and Executive Director of the charity Kiwi Christmas Books. A former television reporter, producer and presenter, she has also written for a variety of websites and magazines. Her debut novel, Spark Hunter, won the Best First Book Award at the NZ Book Awards for Children and Young Adults.