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Four Books to Watch from New Zealand

New Zealanders and informed others, what would you recommend for the international reading audience?

By Alex Mutter

“We’re generalists,” said Kevin Chapman, the President of the Publishers Association of New Zealand, during a presentation last month at the Frankfurt Book Fair, where New Zealand was the Guest of Honor. The event showcased select new titles from four different New Zealand publishers. “We publish all sorts of books, very successfully.”

If you’re a foreign rights director looking to mine gems, you might consider the four recommended titles:

Sarah Bennett, Associate Publisher and Production Manager at Awa Press, showcased Vinacular: A Wine Lover’s A-Z, by Scott Kennedy and John Saker. The book was described as “an intelligent, fun guide to the wine-drinking world.”

Debra Millar, General Manager of Publishing with Penguin New Zealand, presented Lives We Leave Behind by Maxine Alterio. Alterio’s tale tells of two young New Zealand women who volunteer as nurses in World War I and serve on the front lines in North Africa and France

Jenny Hellen, Deputy Publishing Director of Random House New Zealand, offered ACB with Honora Lee by Kate de Goldi. The story, which is meant for children but can easily appeal to adults, is about an eccentric, quirky nine year-old who bonds with her declining, dementia-suffering grandmother

Tracey Borgfeldt of David Bateman Limited, displayed Pure Vanilla: The Essence of Exquisite Cooking from the World’s Best Chefs by Natasha MacAller. Pure Vanilla’s recipes all feature the titular spice, which is one of the most common flavors in the world, yet comes from an orchid found only in Mexico. The book highlights both the sweet and savory aspects of vanilla.

New Zealanders and informed others, what would you recommend for the international reading audience?

For more information about publishing in New Zealand, see today’s feature story, New Zealand: A Vibrant Book Business at the Bottom of the World.

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One Comment

  1. David aubrey
    Posted November 8, 2012 at 9:10 am | Permalink

    I would recommend “Rapture” by Phillip W. Simpson. Part one of his well-receivedYA dystopian trilogy from Pear Jam Books, a very interesting and exciting new addition to the publishing industry. A surprising omission from your article.

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