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Hi, I'm Maria Gill
I'm a children's author and freelance writer, specialising in non-fiction and environmental writing. Some of my titles include: 'The Call of the Kokako', 'New Zealand Hall of Fame', 'Rangitoto', 'Save Our Seas', 'Eco-rangers Save the Planet', 'Dogs on the Job', 'Operation Nest Egg', 'Bird's-eye View' and 'Homework Powerpack'. You can read my blog to find out what I have been doing.
I also:
I also give author talks and workshops to students and teachers - find out how to book me on the Teachers' Page.
Have a look inside some of my books and hear about what inspired me to write them.
I'm a children's author and freelance writer, specialising in non-fiction and environmental writing. Some of my titles include: 'The Call of the Kokako', 'New Zealand Hall of Fame', 'Rangitoto', 'Save Our Seas', 'Eco-rangers Save the Planet', 'Dogs on the Job', 'Operation Nest Egg', 'Bird's-eye View' and 'Homework Powerpack'. You can read my blog to find out what I have been doing.
I also:
| • | Write educational units to go with my books |
| • | Write educational books for the international market |
| • | Write freelance educational units, articles and short stories |
| • | Interview authors from New Zealand and overseas |
| • | Review NZ Children's books on KidsBooksNZ blog |
| • | Blog about positive things kids are doing for the environment |
| • | Visit schools to give talks and workshops |
| • | Skype schools to give book talks |
I also give author talks and workshops to students and teachers - find out how to book me on the Teachers' Page.
Have a look inside some of my books and hear about what inspired me to write them.
'New Zealand's Hall of Fame: 50 Remarkable Kiwi' and 'The Call of the Kokako' received a Storylines Notable Book Award 2012 in the non-fiction category!
I have a new book called 'Volcanic New Zealand' coming out in June 2012. Look on my Facebook fan page to see information about it in the lead-up to its release.
'New Zealand's Hall of Fame: 50 Remarkable Kiwi' is a finalist in the 2012 New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards in the non-fiction category!
In 2011, two of my books were published by New Holland for the New Zealand market:
'New Zealand's Hall of Fame: 50 Remarkable Kiwi' is an illustrated non-fiction book for 8-12 year olds featuring famous New Zealanders such as Sir Edmund Hillary, Dame Susan Devoy, Sir Peter Jackson, Margaret Mahy, Sir Ray Avery, Barbara Kendall, Sir Peter Snell, Bic and Boh Runga, Sir Peter Blake, Dame Whina Cooper, and many more. See Bruce Potter's crazy caricatures, film strips, and other great graphics. Published by New Holland Publishers. New Zealand Hall of Fame stayed five weeks in the bestseller list!
'The Call of the Kokako' a beautifully illustrated hardback book on the mysterious grey ghosts – the kokako. Half the book gives visual and text information about the endangered kokako and the other half tells the story of how eight kokako were saved from the Matahina Forest and the amazing domino effect it created. Featuring award winning illustrator Heather Arnold's drawings, watercolours and acrylic paintings. Published by New Holland Publishers. We received some fantastic reviews for this book!
Another seven non-fiction educational books were published by Learning Media for the educational market.
'Rangitoto' was a finalist in the 2010 New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards in the non-fiction category!
'Save Our Seas' has received a 2010 Storylines Notable Book award in the non-fiction category!
If your school would like to interview me or have a virtual workshop you can book me via the Book Talks website! We'll talk and see each other by using Skype technology.
Teachers, download the long awaited Discovering New Zealand Non-Fiction Children's Book teaching unit. If you book me for a day long author talk and workshop I'll give a free talk to your teachers (in the lunchtime or after school) about how to incorporate New Zealand non-fiction books into your reading programme and a dynamic non-fiction writing educational unit.
I'm planning to do lots of school visits in the Auckland region so if you want me to visit your school, get your teacher to send me an email.
Read about the value I give and receive from Writers in School talks – read more.
I hope to see you at a book launch or school visit one day...
Events
I have a new book called 'Volcanic New Zealand' coming out in June 2012. Look on my Facebook fan page to see information about it in the lead-up to its release.
'New Zealand's Hall of Fame: 50 Remarkable Kiwi' is a finalist in the 2012 New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards in the non-fiction category!
In 2011, two of my books were published by New Holland for the New Zealand market:
'New Zealand's Hall of Fame: 50 Remarkable Kiwi' is an illustrated non-fiction book for 8-12 year olds featuring famous New Zealanders such as Sir Edmund Hillary, Dame Susan Devoy, Sir Peter Jackson, Margaret Mahy, Sir Ray Avery, Barbara Kendall, Sir Peter Snell, Bic and Boh Runga, Sir Peter Blake, Dame Whina Cooper, and many more. See Bruce Potter's crazy caricatures, film strips, and other great graphics. Published by New Holland Publishers. New Zealand Hall of Fame stayed five weeks in the bestseller list!
'The Call of the Kokako' a beautifully illustrated hardback book on the mysterious grey ghosts – the kokako. Half the book gives visual and text information about the endangered kokako and the other half tells the story of how eight kokako were saved from the Matahina Forest and the amazing domino effect it created. Featuring award winning illustrator Heather Arnold's drawings, watercolours and acrylic paintings. Published by New Holland Publishers. We received some fantastic reviews for this book!
Another seven non-fiction educational books were published by Learning Media for the educational market.
'Rangitoto' was a finalist in the 2010 New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards in the non-fiction category!
'Save Our Seas' has received a 2010 Storylines Notable Book award in the non-fiction category!
If your school would like to interview me or have a virtual workshop you can book me via the Book Talks website! We'll talk and see each other by using Skype technology.
Teachers, download the long awaited Discovering New Zealand Non-Fiction Children's Book teaching unit. If you book me for a day long author talk and workshop I'll give a free talk to your teachers (in the lunchtime or after school) about how to incorporate New Zealand non-fiction books into your reading programme and a dynamic non-fiction writing educational unit.
I'm planning to do lots of school visits in the Auckland region so if you want me to visit your school, get your teacher to send me an email.
Read about the value I give and receive from Writers in School talks – read more.
I hope to see you at a book launch or school visit one day...
Events
I'm looking forward to seeing you at some of the following events:
3rd May
visiting Leigh Primary School
8th-10th May
Touring Nelson, Marlborough region for New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards
16th May
visiting Sacred Hearts College in Lower Hutt. Later that night I'll be attending the New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards in Wellington Central!!! Fingers crossed!
21st May
giving an author talk all day at Orakei Primary School
23rd May
visiting Mangawhai School
News
3rd May
visiting Leigh Primary School
8th-10th May
Touring Nelson, Marlborough region for New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards
16th May
visiting Sacred Hearts College in Lower Hutt. Later that night I'll be attending the New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards in Wellington Central!!! Fingers crossed!
21st May
giving an author talk all day at Orakei Primary School
23rd May
visiting Mangawhai School
News
"My signature is writing books with an environmental message."
New Zealand Hall of Fame - 50 Remarkable Kiwis, available NOW.
The Call of the Kokako, available NOW.
New Zealand Hall of Fame - 50 Remarkable Kiwis, available NOW.
The Call of the Kokako, available NOW.