Jennifer Lane's Blog

My shortest-ever post to share my shortest-ever story (300 words!) – ‘The Gap’ – which was recently published in the UK’s The Constancy of Woodpigeons. Tweet tweet.

Read here

Sorry if you’ve heard already, but the winners of the 2024 Ngaio Marsh Awards were announced at the WORD festival in Christchurch this week – and Miracle won the award for Best YA Book!

Woohoo!

Here’s something I stole from the Kete website:

Lane was stunned to find herself onstage accepting the 2024 Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Kids/YA, adding to the Best First Novel prize she won in 2018 for All Our Secrets. She joins Paul Cleave, Jacqueline Bublitz, and Michael Bennett as winners of multiple Ngaio Marsh Awards. The judges praised Miracle, which stars a teenager trying to deal with devastating events and clear her father’s name after he is arrested for a brutal attack, as “poignant and funny, with a complex storyline and memorable, well-developed characters including a fascinating heroine with her authentic adolescent voice.”

Me 'stunned' on stage as I was interrogated by Louise and Gareth Ward, co-authors of The Bookshop Detectives: Dead Girl Gone.

Vanda Symon (Best Novel Award finalist) later told me I also deserved an award for the world’s shortest speech! In my defence, I hadn’t wanted to prepare anything in case I jinxed it.

From what I remember of my too-short speech, I thanked the fabulous Craig Sisterson who tirelessly organises every last detail of the Ngaio Marsh Awards from the other side of the world (even the “miraculous smalltown girl” words in my headline were his). I probably should’ve also given a nod to my publisher Cloud Ink and to my family and friends (including everyone reading this!) for their (your) support. So here’s my belated “thank you”.

Congratulations to David Bishop, winner of the  Best Novel Award for RITUAL OF FIRE and Claire Baylis, winner of the Best First Novel Award for DICE.

New short story ‘The Barbecue’ – in Dark Deeds Down Under 2

Edited by the aforementioned Craig Sisterson, Dark Deeds Down Under 2 is the second volume of a crime and thriller anthology, featuring “22 outstanding storytellers” from both sides of the Tasman (including Charity Norman, Renée, Stephen Johnson and … ahem … me).

Now available from Wellington Unity's Books or you can order here

Ink in my veins

I also recently appeared on the fabulous Rachael Herron’s Ink in your Veins podcast. Among other things I talked about tracing my love of writing back to Year 6, when I won a creative writing competition.

“My prize was a hard cover copy of Anne of Green Gables, which I still have. I don’t think I wrote much else for another 20 years, but it was always something I was going to do.”

Listen here

Spot Sister Patricia's typo (hint: a type of writing I don't remembering mastering in primary school)

As for She Loves You (novel number 3), I’m now working on another draft. Hopefully I’ll have more news on that before another year gallops by. Until then, here are some pics from recent events…

So much has happened since my last post (that was mid-June, so it’s hardly surprising), the most exciting being completing my Masters. In the final months, I was writing every day, usually from bed as soon as I’d opened my eyes. Everything that could go on hold, I put on hold – dentist check-up, doctor’s appointment, home admin, housework, breathing – until the day arrived. The day I’d been dreading since it was announced in our first class: ‘Hand-in’ day. 7 November.

Even by June, halfway in, 7 November seemed like an impossible deadline to meet. But meet it I did. I even had three days left to panic about the f#@!ing formatting.  

My thesis, a novel which was originally known as Staying Alive*, is now an 82,735-word manuscript called She Loves You** and is currently sitting in an agent’s to-read pile. Possibly at the very bottom of potentially a very tall pile, but in it nonetheless.

If you’d like a sneak preview while the manuscript gathers dust, you can read the first chapter in Turbine.

Now that I’m back at work, my nine-month stint as a student feels like a dream. Gone are the days of doing nothing but writing, reading, talking about writing and reading, and wandering around campus pretending I wasn’t old enough to be everyone else’s mother.

Thankfully, some other exciting stuff is happening…

 *Then I realised that the song Staying Alive hadn’t been released in 1967 so couldn’t possibly have been playing on the protagonist’s car radio at a pivotal moment.
**Title may change depending on whether I can borrow a few of The Beatles’ lyrics without selling our house.

While She Loves You is potentially yonks away from existence, my short story ‘The Barbecue’ (an earlier version of a scene from She Loves You) will be available soon in Dark Deeds Down Under II, an Australian and New Zealand crime and thriller anthology. Edited by legendary Ngiao Marsh Awards founder, Craig Sisterson, it’s out later this month, and you pre-order a copy here. 

If you’ve been waiting for the results of the New Zealand YA Awards, I’m sorry. I meant to post several months ago (see paragraph one for excuse) to say that Miracle didn’t win and to congratulate Philippa Werry whose Iris and Me did. Interestingly, eleven-year-old Oscar Sweetman reviewed all the finalists and rated both Iris and Me and Miracle as winners  Here’s his generous review on YouTube. It was fun meeting the impressively well-read Oscar at the awards ceremony (pictured below).

Before the ceremony all finalists appeared at a school event called Books Alive. I didn’t know what to expect but was shocked to be greeted by the world’s most enthusiastic audience. We were treated like rockstars, signing autographs not just in copies of our own books, but also in school exercise books and on tiny scraps of paper. Those scraps probably remain at the bottom of school bags to this very day, soggy from drink bottles and smelling of socks, but still. We felt the love.

 Below are some shots from the Awards and other recent events.

Me with fellow writing group members Janis Freegard, Kate Mahony and Annette Edwards-Hill at the Flash Fiction Awards. Congrats to Janis for being short-listed and Annette for placing third!

I’ll be waxing lyrical about Miracle on the following evenings: 

22 March – Villainous Newtown: Mystery in the Library, 6pm at Newtown Library

19 April – Fabricating fiction: Wellington novelists on the stories they make from facts. 6pm at Undercurrent, 118 Tory St, Wellington

More details to follow via Facebook.

If you haven’t read Miracle yet, you can get a copy from good NZ bookshops and libraries or via Amazon. Reviews on Goodreads and Amazon are always gratefully received (especially if they’re positive!). 

Welcome to the first of my sporadic updates since the last one!

Back in February, before I started studying for my Masters, I imagined writing regular updates on the joys of being a uni student and dedicating a year to fiction. The fact that this is my first blog post since then, and I’m now two weeks into the mid-year break, shows just how much I underestimated the intensity of the course! My thesis – a novel with the working title of Staying Alive – is due on 7 November. I’m not going to count the days between then and now, but I know there are terrifyingly few. Even so, it’s been a lot of fun and I’m grateful for the opportunity to get to know my fellow students and hone my skills.

 And now for the actual news…

 On 1 June, the list of finalists for the 2023 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults was released and I’m thrilled to say that Miracle is in the running for the Young Adult Fiction Award! It’s very exciting to be up there with Kate De Goldi, Eileen Merriman, Philippa Werry and Brian Falkner. Plus, as Miracle wasn’t specifically written for a young audience, this acknowledgement suggests it appeals to older and younger readers alike. The accompanying promotion will also help give Miracle a new lease on life.

 Also on 1 June (it was a big day!), the Ngaio Marsh Awards library series continued with Capital Crimes – Karori Mystery in the Library. Charity Norman chaired a fun evening with Helen Vivienne Fletcher, Alistair Luke, me, and a lively audience. Special thanks to designer Janine Murray for having the foresight to create a book cover that complements the library’s wall!

Coming up in July, I’ll be appearing at Ōtaki, Paekākāriki and Paraparaumu libraries. When I know more, I’ll post details on Facebook and Instagram. In the meantime, you can find me frantically writing here…

If you haven’t read Miracle yet, it’s available from good NZ bookshops and via Amazon. Reviews on Goodreads and Amazon are gratefully received (yes, that’s a hint!). 

Permalink

We’re only three days into 2023 – and my year is already off to a very memorable start, thanks to two bits of news (bad and good) I received on 21 December (just seconds apart):

The bad news: my daughter tested positive for Covid.

The good news: I got accepted into Victoria University’s Masters of Arts in Creative Writing Programme.

So, sod the bad news, I’m going back to uni! And this time, at the very mature age of *coughs* 51, I’ll be sure to learn more than the quickest route from the lecture theatre to the bar.

The thought of dedicating a year to writing is both exciting and terrifying (but mostly exciting). Ever since I won a writing competition in Salient magazine circa 1998, I’ve fantasised about doing Vic Uni’s prestigious course. It means that instead of plodding along on my own, I’ll be writing with the support of a supervisor and 14 other writers. Best of all, I’ll be forced to complete a draft of my next book in one year (as opposed to five!).

This good news definitely took the sting out of the fact that most of my family would be getting Covid for Christmas and we’d have to rethink many of our holiday plans, though I can’t say that’s been fun. Incidentally, I’ve yet to recover, so if you notice any typos in this post, please put them down to brain fog rather than me being too lazy to proof properly (though the latter is also true). Even my dear proofreader friend in Wellington has Covid so I’m going to leave her in peace.

Other exciting things that happened recently

The radical possibility of pacing

Wellington’s Verb Festival is always a huge buzz, and last year’s was no exception. I was part of a LitCrawl panel, along with Christine Leunens (author of Caging Skies/Jojo Rabbit) and Rachael Herron, where we discussed pacing, characters, lightbulb moments and, in relation to Rachael’s novel Hush Little Baby, the fascinating phenomenon that is pseudocyesis.

Christine Leunens, Rachel Herron, me

Nefarious Novels at Newtown

A heavy downpour provided a fitting backdrop to a conversation about all things crime on 18 November. And for those who didn’t brave the weather (I don’t blame you), the event is now on YouTube. I can’t say I’ll ever watch it (listening to myself on the radio is a punishment worth than death, let alone actually watching), but it was a thrill to talk to Renée and Anne Harre, with Louise Dowdell as Chair.

Louise Dowdell, Anne Harre, me, Renée

Read more of Courtenay Rose Brown’s review in the Regional News.

Oh, and Miracle also made it into The Listener’s list of Best Books for Kids.

If you’ve read and enjoyed Miracle, please leave a rating or review on Goodreads.

More soon (ish).

Here’s a quick update about some Wellington events I’m appearing in this November, starting next Saturday:

6pm, Saturday, 5 November @ LitCrawl – The Radical Possibility of Pacing

“Three experts of the craft talk about how they wrangle the pacing beast to tell their tales. With Christine Leunens, Rachael Herron and Jennifer Lane”. More here .

If you’ve never been to LitCrawl before, it’s just like a bar crawl except you ‘crawl’ from one literary event to the other (alcohol is optional). There are 25 events in one night and entry is via donation. I highly recommend it! Here’s this year’s programme.

6.30pm, Friday, 18 November – Nefarious novels at Newtown

“A rare opportunity to hear three of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most outstanding  crime writers: Renée, Jennifer Lane and Anne Harré in conversation with Louise Dowdell, and help us launch Renée’s new book Blood Matters.” Get the full rundown from Wellington Libraries.

Now available in Australia

Miracle is finally available in Australia (and elsewhere) – in paperback or as an ebook – via Amazon. So now’s your chance to get your paws on a copy…

What did you think?

If you’ve read Miracle already, I’d really appreciate a quick review on Goodreads and/or Amazon. Just two or three words will do (preferably not ones like ‘complete tosh’). It all helps. Thanks!

Huge thanks to Catherine Robertson, Good Books NZ, The Little Book Shop, Cloud Ink Press, and everyone who celebrated the launch of Miracle with me in Wellington and Auckland. I’m incredibly grateful for all the support.

Wellington launch – Thursday, 22 September

At approximately 9.07pm Wellington was struck by an earthquake. Just as Australia’s biggest-ever quake destroyed Miracle’s hometown of Boorunga, this one could have decimated our city. Or worse, sent copies of Miracle crashing to the floor of Good Books, burying all my wonderful guests (sorry Jo, Tash, Jacqui, Janis, Constance, Mark, Marion, Rachel and any others reading this).

Fortunately, our earthquake was only a magnitude 5.7, and since the launch was over by 7pm, its only effect was to make me question that second glass of pinot and my decision to wear heels.

An uncanny coincidence though, eh?

Three and a half hours before the ground shook, things were much calmer (my nerves aside). The fabulous Catherine Robertson welcomed Miracle into the world (just as she’d introduced All Our Secrets five years ago), even mentioning it in the same breath as Trent Dalton’s Boy Swallows Universe! Dione Jones from Cloud Ink Press was up next, speaking, among other things, about what a “nightmare” it is to produce a book.

For my speech, I took on board a friend’s feedback on my previous launch (“your speech was too short”), showcasing some of the books that have had an impact on my life – everything from Dick Bruna’s Tilly and Tessa to Janet Frame’s Owls Do Cry.

It was a memorable evening. Many copies of Miracle were sold and signed, propelling it into the following week’s bestsellers list for New Zealand fiction. But most importantly, I loved celebrating with friends and family, including my brother Damien, who’d arrived from Sydney less than two hours before the launch kicked off.

Auckland launch – Saturday, 24 September

In contrast to the shaky, cold, wet night in Wellington, the setting for the Auckland launch was a calm, warm, sunny afternoon. The venue, a little book shop called, um, The Little Book Shop, is tucked away in a new precinct in Remuera, so guests needed a little help to find their way…

This time Cloud Ink’s Dione Jones introduced Miracle, before having to endure the same speech I delivered in Wellington. It was a more intimate gathering and a perfect opportunity to catch up with friends from Auckland and Northland (plus two surprise guests from Cambridge), and meet other Cloud Ink authors.

My daughter Tilly forgot it was her job to take photos, so here are a few from friends…

Reviews

Catherine Robertson on Afternoons with Jesse Mulligan, Radio NZ National (starts approx. 6 mins in)

Alyson Baker, Nelson libraries

Interview

Radio Active - Tanya Ashcroft talking to me about Miracle

Article

A few weeks ago, I became an author from Ohio with 16 romance novels to my name. Here’s how I inadvertently changed my identity.

Miracle is now available in New Zealand from good book shops and online via cloudink.co.nz. It will be available in Australia and elsewhere from Amazon very soon. I’ll keep you posted.

If you’ve read Miracle already, it would be great if you could write a quick review (two or three words would do) on Goodreads or Amazon. Thanks.

“Ingeniously plotted, compassionate and with the best combination of grit and quirkiness, Miracle is sure to become a fast favourite with a wide range of readers.” – Catherine Robertson

Huge thanks to Catherine Robertson, Good Books NZ, The Little Book Shop, Cloud Ink Press, and everyone who celebrated the launch of Miracle with me in Wellington and Auckland. I’m incredibly grateful for all the support.

 At approximately 9.07pm Wellington was struck by an earthquake. Just as Australia’s biggest-ever quake destroyed Miracle’s hometown of Boorunga, this one could have decimated our city. Or worse, sent copies of Miracle crashing to the floor of Good Books, burying all my wonderful guests (sorry Jo, Tash, Constance, Janis, Jacqui, Mark, Marion, Rachel and any others reading this).

Fortunately, our earthquake was only a magnitude 5.7, and since the launch was over by 7pm, its only effect was to make me question that last glass of pinot and my decision to wear heels.

 An uncanny coincidence though, eh?

Three and a half hours before the ground shook, things were much calmer (my nerves aside). The fabulous Catherine Robertson welcomed Miracle into the world (just as she’d introduced All Our Secrets five years ago), even mentioning it in the same breath as Trent Dalton’s Boy Swallows Universe! Dione Jones from Cloud Ink Press was up next, speaking, among other things, about what a “nightmare” it is to produce a book.

For my speech, I took on board a friend’s feedback on my previous launch (“your speech was too short”), showcasing some of the books that have had an impact on my life – everything from Dick Bruna’s Tilly and Tessa to Janet Frame’s Owls Do Cry.

It was a memorable evening. Many copies of Miracle were sold and signed, propelling it into the following week’s bestsellers list for New Zealand fiction. But most importantly, I loved celebrating with friends and family, including my brother Damien, who’d arrived from Sydney less than two hours before the launch kicked off.

 Auckland launch – Saturday, 24 September

In contrast to the shaky, cold, wet night in Wellington, the setting for the Auckland launch was a calm, warm, sunny afternoon. The venue, a little book shop called, um, The Little Book Shop, is tucked away in a new precinct in Remuera, so guests needed a little help to find their way…

This time Cloud Ink’s Dione Jones introduced Miracle, before having to endure the same speech I delivered in Wellington. It was a more intimate gathering and a perfect opportunity to catch up with friends from Auckland and Northland (plus two surprise guests from Cambridge), and meet other Cloud Ink authors.

My daughter Tilly forgot it was her job to take photos, so here are a few from friends…

Reviews

Catherine Robertson on Afternoons with Jesse Mulligan, Radio NZ National (starts approx. 6 mins in)

 Alyson Baker, Nelson libraries

Interview

Radio Active - Tanya Ashcroft talking to me about Miracle

Article

A few weeks ago, I became an author from Ohio with 16 romance novels to my name. Here’s how I inadvertently changed my identity

Miracle is now available in New Zealand from good book shops and online via cloudink.co.nz. It will be available in Australia and elsewhere from Amazon very soon. I’ll keep you posted.

If you’ve read Miracle already, I’d love it if you could write a quick review (two or three words would do) on Goodreads or Amazon. Thanks.

“Ingeniously plotted, compassionate and with the best combination of grit and quirkiness, Miracle is sure to become a fast favourite with a wide range of readers.” – Catherine Robertson

Welcome to my first sporadic update since … the last one!

 I’m excited to announce that Miracle has been printed and will be available soon:

from good New Zealand book shops – 22 September.

via Amazon (ebook and paperback) from Australia and elsewhere – 1 October.

 If you want to secure a copy now, you can also pre-order here (New Zealand only, unless you want to pay a ridiculous amount for international postage).

The book launch

If you’re in Wellington, please join Cloud Ink Press and me for the launch of Miracle at GOOD BOOKS (2/16 Jessie Street, Te Aro) at 5.30pm on Thursday, 22 September. The event will be hosted by the fabulous Catherine Robertson, author and co-owner of GOOD BOOKS.

Plans for launches in Auckland and online are also in the pipeline – I’ll keep you posted.

Also coming up

 17 September: I’m talking to Neil Johnstone on Radio Active at 11am.

 5 November: I’m appearing at LitCrawl – part of the Verb Readers and Writers Festival exploring ‘The Radical Possibility of Pacing’ with Christine Leunens and R H Herron.

A happy ending on Goodreads

Earlier this week, I became an author from Ohio with 16 romance novels to my name. Here’s how I inadvertently changed my identity:

Read now

‘Ingeniously plotted, with the best combination of grit and quirkiness, Miracle is sure to become a fast favourite with a wide range of readers.’ CATHERINE ROBERTSON 

More about Miracle

Here’s a sneak peek of the new novel…

Published by Cloud Ink Press, cover design by Janine Murray and video music by Damien Lane. Out on 22 September 2022.