The Ngaio Marsh Awards, in association with Waimakariri Libraries, invite booklovers to a thrilling evening of criminally good conversation with four talented Kiwi storytellers.

Crime writing has evolved from the puzzle-like mysteries of Agatha Christie and Canterbury's own Dame Ngaio Marsh to modern novels delving deeply into people, places, and psychology. It has continued to be one of the world’s most popular form of storytelling, for adults and kids alike.

Michael Gifkins Prize winner Jeffrey Buchanan will be joined by fellow Canterbury authors Marie Connolly, a 2025 Ngaio Marsh Award for Best First Novel finalist, children's bookseller and middle-grade mystery writer Kate Gordon-Smith, and award-winning Ōtautahi Christchurch YA author and teacher Heather McQuillan to discuss what inspires them as writers, and how they create memorable characters and page-turning stories.

Internationally published Oxford poet Doc Drumheller will help keep the peace and cross-examine the witnesses.

WHEN: Friday, 1 May, 5.30pm

WHERE: Rangiora Library, 141 Percival St, Rangiora

This is a free event; however, registration is essential. Please register at any of the branches of Waimakariri Libraries, or by phoning Rangiora Library on 0800 965 542, or via Facebook messenger.

Refreshments will be provided.

About the Authors:

Jeffrey Buchanan

Jeffrey Buchanan has written five novels concerned primarily with LGBTQI+ issues, SUCKING FEIJOAS being his first. He worked in international development for thirty years and lives with his husband on a remote stretch of beach in North Canterbury. His manuscript for THE BIRD'S BEGAN TO SING, a mystery mixed with coming-of-age tale set in 1960s New Zealand, won the 2024 Michael Gifkins Prize, and was published in 2025 to great reviews. His writing tackles issues of human rights, homophobia, racism, gender and class inequalities regardless of the ideologies within which they swirl: religion, culture, political persuasion, or social class. If an ideology abuses any of those issues, then it’s fair game for critical analysis. LGBTQI issues are central and my message is unequivocal: don’t mess with us. Pansies’ Revenge says it all.

Kate Gordon-Smith

New Zealander Kate Gordon-Smith is the author of fiction for children aged 7 to 12. Kate loves writing fun mysteries and fantastical adventures for young readers. She writes from the heart about things she loves like dogs, ponies and friendship. She always has new story ideas brewing – the challenge is finding the time to write them all! She has published three books so far under her imprint Relish Books – Lily and the Unicorn King (2019), Maddison McQueen and the Cupcake Mystery (2024) and Maddison McQueen and the Disappearing Dogs (2024). She’s also created a fun unicorn-themed journal. Kate is the founder and owner of an indie online bookshop, the Kiwi Kids’ Bookstore, which features books by New Zealand authors for children and teens aged 0 to 18, and the NZ Indie Publishing Directory, an online resource of New Zealand publishing professionals available to help authors looking to self-publish. Kate also works as a book publicist and indie publishing coach for other authors. She lives in North Canterbury with her husband, their red and white collie Kenzie and rescue dog Snow, a ex-racehorse called Tony, and his paddock-mate pony friend Wizzie. See https://www.kategordonauthor.com/ for more info.


Marie Connolly

Marie Connolly has been an academic for over thirty years, working in university and government settings. An expert in child protection systems, she began her academic career at the University of Canterbury and moved to Australia in 2010 to take up a professorial position at the University of Melbourne. Retiring in 2019, she returned to Aotearoa and now writes more eclectically, publishing children’s books, film review blogs and various community arts books. In 2024 she published her first crime novel, Dark Sky, which was a finalist in the 2025 Ngaio Marsh Awards for first novel. Icefall is her second novel in the Nellie Prayle series. She lives in Akaroa with her partner George.

Heather McQuillan

Heather McQuillan is an award-winning writer based in Ōtautahi Christchurch, New Zealand. As well as writing for young people, she writes short fiction, flash fiction and poetry and has been widely published in Aotearoa and internationally. She has a Master of Creative Writing with distinction from Massey University, and her thesis collection of short stories was published in the UK as Where Oceans Meet. In 2005, she won the Tom Fitzgibbon Award, and three of her novels for young people have been awarded Storylines Notable Books. Heather is the director of Write On School for Young Writers, where she works to give agency to young writers. Author website:  https://www.heathermcquillanwriter.com/