Learning the write stuff

Budding writers were paid special attention by visiting Marlborough Book Festival authors on Friday.

Over 200 Marlborough Girls’ College and Bohally Intermediate students enjoyed an hour with Stacy Gregg, author of the iconic Pony Club Secrets series and Nine Girls, who provided a reading from her new release, The Last Journey.

The afternoon session saw Saraid da Silva, author of Amma, the 2025 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize winner, also host a writing session for students.

MGC librarian and visit organiser Colleen Shipley was pleased to “bring reading alive” by providing behind-the-scenes insight into writing books.

“Having Stacy come is amazing as it creates nostalgia for the many girls who have read her stories while Saraid’s topics around migration through the eyes of generations in Amma is one that students will feel in one way or another.

“I think the way that Stacy connected the research that she had done and how bits of history can fit into a story can indirectly explain and grow understanding for us.

“Writing and reading allows you to put yourself in the shoes of someone and explore worlds you couldn’t dream of,” said Stacy to the student group.

“The Last Journey is a young adult book, so while it still approaches heavy topics like our pre-conceived biases between good and bad, fascism, environmentalism and domestication, it explores those through the eyes and adventure of a 11-year-old girl engulfed within turbulent life events.

“I’ve always been a writer of poems and short stories. Despite trying, I never had the guts or skill to be an international eventing rider, but I put what I dreamed about as a girl onto paper while going through post-natal depression which allowed young girls to live their horse dreams through my words.

“I don’t think many recognise the value within rewriting and editing, the value of looking back over your work to take out what isn’t driving your writing forward towards its goal as it is something my editor and I do plenty of.

“There’s something quite satisfying about reusing names of people you didn’t like as baddies in stories too,” she added.

Festival organiser Sonia O’Regan described the 2025 Festival as a “big success”.

“There was great feedback from the audience about the gala evening with locals joining the committee to work as volunteers over the weekend helping the event to run smoothly in a great team effort.

“We sold slightly more tickets than in 2024 which was a triumph in tough economic times and hope to see even more people come along next time.”