Where are the must see places in New Zealand?

Taranaki gate available on ether books

Since writing Taranaki Gate I have been thinking more about taking a trip to New Zealand.  Now, for the first time it might be achievable. Clearly finding a gate in Taranaki region has to be part of the plot; but whilst I’m thumbing through brochures and checking out websites what would your recommendations be?  A few that have been put forward so far are:

• Plan My Play – which has 20 top places in each region
• A Mokau River trip
• Govett-Brewster Summer Show
• Pukekura Park
• The Coastal Walkway
• Dawson Falls, Mt Taranaki
• Lake Waikaremoana
• Whitianga
• Opotiki to Gisbourne

Take Three; Chefs

e-Cover Take Three; Chefs

I love cookery programmes of every shape and size.  I am always interested when a particular format takes off in such a way that you wonder what the next one will be.  The current trend is the type of contest where there is the cut and thrust of an elimination battle, with ever more intricate recipes and presentations.  Take those thoughts as the background and then this tweet exchange with @PumpStBakery as the catalyst….

Mix in a dollop of reading A day at El Bulli, a book about insects, blogs about botflies and the result is the short story ‘Take Three; Chefs’ published on ether books.

When you finish the story let me know if you have worked out who the winner of the cookery competition is.  The answer is there, but just a bit cryptic.  I must go back sometime and write the story of why Sinita changed her name to Cynthia.

Ether books can be downloaded to iPhones and iPads (other formats will follow) via an app which you can get HERE.

Within the app you can look for my name Vivia Bamford in the author’s section to find all my stories.

Magna

eCover for Magna - published by ether books

Magna started life as a series of bullet points in a notebook.  Some are personal experiences and some things that happened to others, found as I read papers or flicking through magazines at the hairdressers. Moments like coming off my bike or standing at the side of the motorway after the car had broken down. The one thing they had in common was generating ‘what if’ thoughts.  What if it wasn’t me, but someone in a different situation who was encountering this…. what would lead someone to steal washing off a line… or to decide to become a breatharian…is there a set of circumstances that might bring all these things and more together? Well in my mind there was; but will Crawford, the detective in the story come to understand it fully?

There is a very distinct place that forms Magna’s final resting spot; although the rest of the geography of the journey does not follow a true course. If you like walking and don’t mind steep climbs (there is a good reason for one part being called Breakheart Hill, if it doesn’t break your heart it could break your ankles) try this walk, it is beautiful. I thoroughly recommend climbing the Tyndale Monument when you arrive at North Nibley. With the New Inn at Waterley Bottom making a fabulous lunch spot and parking in Wotton-Under-Edge you may find the flat stone where Magna completes her journal.

When you get to the end of the story you may discover one of my other guilty pleasures, but please no spoilers.

Ether books can be downloaded to iPhones and iPads (other formats will follow) via an app which you can get HERE.

Taranaki Gate

eCover to Taranaki Gate, published by ether books

Taranaki gate is the first of my stories to be published by ether books. Ether books can be downloaded to iPhones and iPads (other formats will follow) via an app which you can get HERE. I have to admit being thrilled to bits when ether contacted me to say they were going to publish; there is something rather wonderful about seeing your name in ‘print’.

Taranaki Gate was originally a much shorter story written as a competition entry where the title given was ‘Wire’. Using my @Farctum Twitter account I asked people what the word ‘Wire’ meant to them. When you read the story see how many interpretations of wire you can spot.

The story is in part a personal one too. My name Vivia was brought back from New Zealand by my father who had been on a Young Farmer’s Scholarship to see how farming was carried out over there. He also brought back two books, one called from N to Z and one called Sheer Nonsense; through these I was introduced to the Taranaki Gate. I would love to find copies of those books again.

Now for a bit of pure vanity – on checking the ether books ‘top in app purchases’ earlier in the week I found that mine was number 1, and two places ahead of Sir Paul McCartney, I’m sure it wont last long but it made me smile.