Award-winning author Stacy Gregg is looking forward to visiting her hometown of Ngaaruawaahia to share her stories and passion for writing.
Stacy will be visiting Ngaaruawaahia, Te Kauwhata and Huntly libraries on Thursday 4 June. She says her childhood shaped who she is as a person and comes through in her books.
“I whakapapa back to Ngaaruawaahia. I went to the local primary school and high school, my grandmother had a farm next to Taupiri maunga and my whanau grew up around there.”
Stacy is one of New Zealand’s most internationally successful writers. Her books are aimed at 8-12 year olds and have won many awards. Her novel Nine Girls won the Supreme Margaret Mahy Award, the Esther Glen Award for Fiction and was shortlisted for the prestigious British Quills award. Nine Girls is the story of a Maaori girl growing up in in Ngaaruawaahia in the late 1970s and early 80s.
“I’m really thrilled about the success of Nine Girls. When you are writing a book you can realise yourself in a fictional form. The story draws on my own childhood growing up in Ngaaruawaahia. It’s a story that is really central to who we are, and it has broad resonance. When I write, I learn things about myself in the process.”
Stacy is best known for the Pony Club Secrets series, which have sold more than 1.5 million copies worldwide and were later turned into a television series.
Inspiration for her writing comes from the things she loves and cares about, she says. Animals, history and Maaori culture. “I have always been passionate about horses. I love animals and I feel deeply connected to my pets. Many of them have ended up as characters in my books.”
The Last Journey was inspired by her cat, Pusskins. She is currently finishing her 40th book about a pack of dogs. “My dog, a Russian wolfhound, appears in my latest book but he’s not the main character. He’s a bit of a goof and just doesn’t have ‘main character’ energy,” she laughs.
Writing 40 books sounds exhausting but, for Stacy, it’s her passion. She says hard work is part of her DNA and comes from growing up in a small town. “My high school teacher, Mrs Crawford, first encouraged my love of writing and language. I loved writing but I never thought I could make it my career. I am enormously lucky that I get to do what I love for a job.”
At the moment, one of her books is being turned into an animated film and will go into production next year. As well as writing books, Stacy also writes for the television series, My Life is Murder, starring Lucy Lawless.
On a personal note, Stacy is learning to become fluent in te reo Maaori. “The way to connect with your taha is through language.”
On Thursday Stacy will share her love of writing, the inspiration and writing process, plus tips for budding authors. Details and times for the library visits can be found here.
