Tracy Farr

Bad Diaries Podcast is back … talking about good diaries, writing, and the creative process

View over still water, low morning light, boats in Careys Bay, and out beyond towards the heads of Otago Harbour

Mōrena

Beautiful morning at Careys Bay, Ōtākou

A novel with WONDERLAND in red text and Tracy Farr in yellow text. There are two notebooks underneath it, one red (Wonderland the 1st), the other yellow (Wonderland 15).

A book, Wonderland, angled so you can see the front cover and spine. It’s being held in front of a pile of other books. The image on the front cover is of an old-fashioned amusement park, highlighted with overlaid colour pops in read and yellow and blue.

The back cover of the novel, with blurb that reads: Te Motu Kairangi Miramar Peninsula, Wellington 1912 Doctor Matti Loverock spends her days and nights bringing babies into the world, which means her daughters-seven-year-old triplets Ada, Oona and Hanna—have grown up at Wonderland, the once-thriving amusement park owned by their father, Charlie. Then a grieving woman arrives to stay from the other side of the world, in pain and incognito, fleeing scandal. She ignites the triplets' curiosity and brings work for Matti, diverting them all from what is really happening at Wonderland. In a bold reimagining, Marie Curie-famous for her work on radioactivity-comes to Aotearoa and discovers both solace and wonder. Passionate, beautifully constructed, sorrowful and yet immensely hopeful. -Fiona Kidman 'Mesmerising. A book that leaves you filled with wonder, and deeply moved. I loved it. —Gigi Fenster

The eve of publication for this beauty, WONDERLAND

Turns out the text on the cover matches my 1st + last notebooks for this novel 📕 📒

From 1st notebook:
“1.1.16 Where to start?…It may be that there are *3* sisters…3 is a good fairytale number, a prime”

Been a long ride getting here

#pukapuka

A hand holds a book, ROBERT LORD DIARIES, in front of an open door, a brick wall, a green-framed window. Through the door, a fireplace mantel and hearth, a hallway. Reflected in the window, the outhouse laundry, a clouded blue sky.

The flat front of a small brick house, with two metal plaques. One, rectangular, reads, ‘THE ROBERT LORD WRITERS’ COTTAGE 1992’. The other, below it, oval, reads, ‘HISTORIC PLACE / NEW ZEALAND HERITAGE LIST / 9274 / RĀRANGI KŌRERO / HERITAGE NEW ZEALAND POUHERE TAONGA’

Beginning week 2 (of 6!) of my residency at Robert Lord Writers Cottage in Ōtepoti Dunedin. What a treat to have such a chunk of writing time in this house, this city. In my down-time I’m immersed in Robert Lord Diaries – delighting in reading it here, in his place.

Now, back to work…

#pukapuka

Book cover, WONDERLAND by Tracy Farr. A view of Wonderland amusement park from 1907 is tinted green, with colours highlighting a string of lights in yellow, the boat lake in the foreground blue, a boat on the lake in red, a fence line snaking down the hillside in yellow.

Today is a Wonderland day

Here’s the beautiful cover of my new novel, WONDERLAND, published next month by The Cuba Press

I’ve spent a fab summer editing with @drsian.bsky.social, working with TCP to bring it to the page. Can’t wait for it to be released into the wild

@nzsa.bsky.social
#pukapuka

“The only weapons I have to use against the disturbing things I see happening in the world at the moment are my words; my stories.”

#pukapuka

Something I think isn’t really obvious to non-researchers is that the vast, vast majority of NZ government science spending already goes to funds which are targeted at direct economic outcomes. The Marsden Fund was the last, inadequate bastion of fundamental research funding. 🧪

Huzzah!

godDAMN this stupid milkloving piece of shit dumbass mean spirited sale at briscoes racist sexist 40% off deck furniture piss country
#MarsdenSchmarsden

Govt cuts humanities and social science funding - Expert Reaction Humanities and social science funding has been cut from the Marsden Fund, the main fund for 'blue-skies' research in Aotearoa New Zealand. The areas that have been cut include research in subjects lik...

My full comments on the cuts to the Marsden Fund of the @royalsocietynz.bsky.social are now up here:

Whiria te tangata: Understanding the importance of traditional clothing making In this innovative project, Associate Professor Hinekura Smith (Te Rarawa, Ngā Puhi) of Pūrangakura Māori Research Centre will work alongside communities to explore the considered practice of traditio...

Some Marsdens announced last month, 🧵
1. Whiria te tangata: Understanding the importance of traditional clothing making as a vital contributor to mental, spiritual & cultural wellbeing eg by transmitting knowledge, preserving traditions & fostering connection. Focussed on women. Hinekura Smith.

“In some ways it's complex, in other ways it's simple: art and creativity are a public good”

Lucy!!! I am thrilled for you – so well deserved, Days of Innocence and Wonder is superb xx

It’s @baddiariessalon.bsky.social time! Our last live salon for 2024 – be there, people of Pōneke (though there is so much good stuff on at LitCrawl you will, like me, want to be everywhere all at once)

#pukapuka

Join us in the shop to hear from Janis Freegard chat about her recent collection of short stories, Wild, Wild Women, published by At The Bay | Te Kokoru.

Looking forward to a wild, wild time next week, talking with Janis Freegard about her brilliant new short story collection Wild, Wild Women, published by AT THE BAY | I TE KOKORU

12.30pm Tue 1 Oct at Unity Wellington

#kikorangi #pukapuka #booksky

Such a delight to chat with @clairemabey.bsky.social this month for the poddie – we talked about her fab book, diaries and writing, and making a life work in the arts

Four beachcast objects arranged on a white background mimic a terrified face. Two fragments of shell are the eyes, a coil of copper wire the nose, an O of a limpet (missing its middle) the mouth.

La di dah, I’m going to try to ease gently back in to social media. My gleanings from the beach yesterday make a face that shows you how this makes me feel 🙀

An invitation to a little celebration for Janet Frame in the event of her 100th birthday. Wednesday 28th August 5.30 to 6.30 pm at Wellington Writers Studio 145 Cuba St Wellington NZ

A party hat, a book by Janet Frame and a birthday cupcake with a candle on a plate

Happy 100th Birthday to Janet Frame 🎂

Join us & Katherine Mansfield House at Wellington Writers Studio for an informal gathering with snacks & readings of her work. There will be readers but bring along your favourite Frame poem to read and share.

Wed 28th Aug 5.30 - 6.30 Info in the images.

Why I’m no longer writing novels for adults 'If you write with passion and integrity, writing for children is every bit as stimulating, challenging and complex as writing for adults.'

Wrote something! #pukapuka #kidlit #kidlituk #middlegrade thespinoff.co.nz/books/24-06-...

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A Clerihew

Christopher Luxon
Hardly ever mucks in.
He looks a bit sinister
But he’s actually the New Zealand Prime Minister.

.

I am honestly so grateful that nobody died, and that we can actually joke all day about this

"Brown said the Government was committed to a resilient Cook Strait service"

you don't get to have it both ways Simeon, both you and Nicola have tots fucked up for no discernable reason other than arrogance

#nzpol

‘My mum was a five-foot-nothing pocket rocket and I want to tell her story’ Winner of inaugural Rush Cottage Writers’ Residency wants to tell her mother's story.

Yay, @eloquentsonia.bsky.social

Writing the story of Taeko Braid: ‘My mum was a five-foot-nothing pocket rocket’

www.nzherald.co.nz/hawkes-bay-t...

Well, some of them are built so they don't run aground at all

Looks great! Love those thread colours on black jumper

Thanks Cilla!

Ngā mihi nui Tash – I’m thrilled!

Thanks James!

So cool! Thanks Adele, it does feel really special.