Mānawatia a Matariki Puanga
Matariki is the Māori New Year. It's the time when the Matariki constellation (which you may know as the Pleiades, or the Seven Sisters) becomes visible in the night sky. It's a time for sharing food, thinking of ancestors, remembering those who have passed this year, and of hope for the year ahead.
Since 2022 it's been an official public holiday (which is today) and Māori leaders, astronomers, story tellers, and others have shown huge generosity in sharing the holiday, and the meaning behind it, with all of us, and honestly, in long dark winters like this, it's turning into one of my favourites.
Now I live in a narrow valley, which means Matariki isn't actually visible just yet. Traditionally Māori in this area marked the rise of Puanga, the star you may also know as Rigel.
An appropriate greeting is Mānawatia a Matariki or Mānawatia a Matariki Puanga.
So Mānawatia a Matariki Puanga to all my subscribers, and may you have the best year ahead.
Travel and plans disrupted
After years of few holidays, and no overseas travel, last month my partner and I made it on a trip to Melbourne. It was lovely. We went to the zoo and saw snakes and lemurs. We made a trip to Australia's most iconic location: the Harold Holt memorial swimming pool. We looked at art (I am obsessed with this installation) and ate good food from more cuisines than I can count, and also on occasion had a 7/11 doughnut for breakfast. We hugged friends we hadn't seen in far far to long.
Continuum was our first full in person convention since 2019 and it was fun. It was lovely to hang out and talk books and nerd stuff, and hear what everyone had to say.
Then we went on a train trip to regional Victoria and onward to Sydney.
And then on the day before we were supposed to fly home... I tested positive for COVID.
Four years I had avoided it, and predictably it picked its timing. We had to rearrange everything. The hotel was a little weird about it, the airline were helpful, our cat feeder was an absolute godsend, and Uber Eats both saved our lives and are something I never want to have to order again. Ever.
Fortunately, despite both having chronic respiratory conditions, neither of us were seriously ill - it was unpleasant, but at no point did I fear it was becoming a medical emergency, and eventually we made it home. We were lucky that it was not worse - and that we got to have most of the holiday we'd planned.
Events
DESPITE the above, it seems we're doing events again! I have several lined up as an author; I'd love to see you there.
Continuity
Pōneke Wellington, 6-7 June 2024
I'm going to be speaking on three panels, as well as generally hanging around:
- Shakespeare Retellings
- Positive SFF - from Cosy Fantasy to Hopepunk
- Let’s talk Books - recent releases, new trends, and hidden gems
You do need to sign up for this one, link in the heading above.
Armageddon Palmerston North
3-4 August 2024
I'll have a table (well, half of one)! It's a big event and I'm a bit nervous - just getting some things sorted and then I'll let you have more info. Come and say hi!
Ages of Pages
Kirikiriroa Hamilton, 26 April 2025
Yep, I loved it so much I signed up for a second round next year. I'll have new books by then!
I've been reading...
While my writing has been a little slow as I recover from the above, and also have a lot on when it comes to day job, I've definitely been reading!
Two of the books I read while travelling are The Woods all Black by Lee Mandelo and Christen Randall's The No Girlfriend Rule. I was reflecting on how they are such different queer books, and yet both made an impression on me - I feel there's space for both in the world and it's a triumph we've reached a place where both are easily available to many of us.
The Woods all Black by Lee Mandelo is dark and it pulls no punches. A young trans man sent to a small, insular, Appalanchian town, and right from the start you can feel the underlying violence. There's solidarity too, and a reminder that queer people already exist in these places, but Mandelo chooses revenge where another author would have chosen reconciliation, and I felt it.
The No Girlfriend Rule was so much fun. Teen in a dead-end relationship starts playing D&D to try and make her relationship last - and instead finds queer friendship, and a whole better relationship. I loved the communication and mutual support this modeled, and how it balanced the MCs boyfriend being extremely eyerolly with nuance about how much complicity the MC did and didn't have in the relationship, and her agency to do better. Great fat rep too. And just, delightful, full of enthusiasm and hope.
Also recently, I've read and liked the memoir Hijab Butch Blues by Lamya H, Miranda in Milan, a story of what might have happened after The Tempest, by Katharine Duckett, and Amongst Our Weapons, the latest installment in the Rivers of London series.
I hope you have good books and food today, and that whether your days are getting shorter or longer, you have heaps to look forward to.
Catch you next time!
Andi