Yarns in Barns: Jenny Pattrick + Cristina Sanders

New Zealand fiction writers, Jenny Pattrick and Cristina Sanders, discuss imagining stories within real-life historical events.

Cristina Sanders’, Mrs Jewel and the Wreck of the General Grant, is a vivid imagining of the story behind the enduring mystery of one of New Zealand’s early shipwrecks. While acclaimed historical novelist Jenny Pattrick’s latest book, Harbouring, explores character and place as Wellington is transformed from thick bush and steep hills to a bustling colonial settlement.

In association with our friends at Featherston Booktown and moderated by Mary Biggs

This event is part of the Featherston Booktown Sunday double header of events. Stay for the second session, true crime stories with Scott Bainbridge and enjoy a light lunch in between, featuring freshly made sandwiches, home baking (and gluten-free treats) along with tea and coffee provided by the Featherston Booktown Country Tea & Cakes volunteers team. $8 for a hot drink and either a sweet or savoury item of food.

About Jenny Pattrick

Jenny Pattrick is an acclaimed historical novelist, whose The Denniston Rose, and its sequel Heart of Coal, are among New Zealand’s biggest-selling novels. They have also been republished in an illustrated edition. The former teacher and jeweller’s works include the Whanganui novel Landings, and Inheritance, set in Samoa, which, along with all her adult titles, have been number one bestsellers in New Zealand. Other titles include Catching the Current (2005), In Touch with Grace (2006), Skylark (2012), Heartland (2014), Leap of Faith (2017) and Harbouring (2022). In 2009 she received the New Zealand Post Mansfield Fellowship. She has been active in the arts community, and has also written stories, songs and shows for children.

About Cristina Sanders

Cristina Sanders grew up in the family’s Gateway Bookshop in Wellington and has been a keen reader ever since. She worked in publishing and book marketing and had a career in business before becoming a writer. An obsession with New Zealand colonial history and geography defines her stories for adults and young adults.

The novels Jerningham and Displaced were both shortlisted for the NZSA Heritage Literary Awards. Displaced won the 2020 Storylines Tessa Duder Award and has been shortlisted for the 2022 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults.

Cristina lives in Hawkes Bay and is a regular volunteer crew member of the youth training ship the Spirit of New Zealand, where the sailing and the sailors keep her well supplied with yarns.

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This event is part of Yarns in Barns: Wairarapa Festival of Reading which takes place between 14–23rd October, 2022. This organic, community-led festival hosts an eclectic range of events for all ages in venues from Masterton to Martinborough. View the full festival programme at yarnsinbarns.co.nz

Presented by Hedley's Books, Fraser Books, Masterton District Library and the Wairarapa Library Service.