New Plymouth's writers

An evening with David and Elizabeth

 

Last Friday evening we went to a most enjoyable event sponsored by the local Labour Party: an evening to listen to Elizabeth Smither and David Hill discussing their work and occupations.

 

Elizabeth is best known for her books of poetry, and she has also published several books of short stories and two novels. New Plymouth people also know her well as a librarian at the city's Puke Ariki Library, where she worked until recently.

 

David is best known for his young adult fiction, although he also writes adult fiction and poetry, has written several plays, and writes regularly for such publications as the NZ Listener and the NZ Herald. He also reviews books regularly for Radio New Zealand.

 

The evening was quite informal with these two asking each other questions about their work, their working methods, their experience of getting work published, and writing in general. They also each read some of their work, Elizabeth a selection of poems, and David reading us a piece about his father and a poem for children.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In response to a question about imagination, Elizabeth replied that imagination is like a muscle, you have to use it for it to develop. Imagination, she said, is not something that some people have more than others; everyone has imagination, but they need to practise its use.

 

They explained that writers normally make 10% of the selling price of a book, and if the book is published overseas, half of their royalty goes to the New Zealand publisher. They also get a fee for books held in public libraries. When asked about self-publishing, they commented that they could not do without the expertise and facilities of the publishing houses; especially the distribution systems would be difficult to replicate with self-publishing.