Kiwi Writers Staff

Founder & President
Kerryn Angell (Profile)
The Inspiration Expedition

I began writing stories soon after I learned to write and have never stopped. I began to absorb everything available on writing, attending the Christchurch School for Young Writers by correspondence and being published in Re-draft, gaining a Diploma in Creative Writing from the New Zealand Institute of Business Studies and becoming addicted to writing related challenges with my introduction to National Novel Writing Month.
I have worked on several novels and short stories and I'm working on many more. I write to challenge myself, to test myself and push myself beyond what I think I can accomplish. I write to learn about people, about places, about culture, about life and about myself. I write to entertain, to create, to teach and to inspire. Most of all I write because it's fun.

Vice President / Secretary
Karen Johnson Mead (Profile)

Catherine Mede Writes

I’m KarenJM and I am a writerholic, and a notebookaholic.  I discovered KiwiWriters about 4 years ago and I liked what they site had to offer, so I became a member of staff here. I write because I want to, need to, and have a desire to write.  I have participated in most of the SoCNoC’s and have 4 novels to prove it.  I have a blog site over at www.catherinemede.com where I discuss a lot of my writing, ideas and how life impacts my perspective on writing.   I believe in setting goals for yourself, start small and achieve them, because success comes from reaching your goals.  Just keep moving the goal posts as you succeed.  

Happy Writing.

Staff
Travis Cottreau (Profile)
http://cottreau.blogspot.com/

I am a Canadian living in Wellington who always wanted to write, but never did it until Andy roped me into my first Nanowrimo. I will forever be grateful.

I am not as active here now as I used to be, but will pop my head up every once in a while, participate in a challenge or throw out an idea and put my head back down.

I write two novels per year, but while I've learned many things about writing, I've learned very little about editing or re-writing. That's one of my 2009 resolutions - editing one of my past novels into a final version I'm satisfied with.

See you all in the new year.

Staff
Pam Leja (Profile)

Hi, I am an Australian living in California. I am a passionate writer who enjoys encourages others to reach their goals.

I write for the love of the words flowing across the page and to give life to characters who have been living in my creative mind for years.

I started writing in 2007 and under took National Novel Writing Month, winning had me hooked on writing. I live and breath books, I work in a library and in my spare time I leather bind books.

My goal in life has always been to get a novel published, and I will keep striving ahead until that happens. I am a current student of the Writers Village University, and try to constantly learn from what I read and write.

I am married to a very supportive man and have the required two cats. I mainly focus my time on writing fantasy, thrillers and horror. I will continue to encourage other writers and promote Kiwi Writers where ever I can.

Go Team Kiwi!

Past Staff Members

Techie
Andrew Chilton
http://kapiti.geek.nz/

For years I have written things - many things. A travel log, my dreams, a diary and then a blog, all at various stages of my life. I didn't know it was a big part of me until I did NaNoWriMo in 2006 and only then did my eyes open at how much I enjoyed it. My writing isn't great, but I get great pleasure from it.

Joining up with other like minded Kiwis for Kiwi Writers gives me immense pride even if my involvement is mainly technical. My main passion is programming and what better way to enjoy that than developing the KiwiWriters.org website.

Staff
Jane Birdling
http://angellic.org/

Hello. I am Jane. I am a Registered Nurse. I live in New Zealand. Oh, writing? I have written some stuff. It is not that great. But it was fun. I would like to write more stuff. I would like to have lots of people nearby who I can talk to about writing it. So then I might learn how to write good. So I am here. I help out with stuff. I enjoy annoying the other people who are doing the important things. I may re-edit this later when it is not 1.45am and I am not at work. Thank you. Please come again.

Publicist Cassie Hart (Profile)
http://jchart.wordpress.com/

I have been having a love affair with the written word since I was very young, though over the years there were times when we weren't really having much to do with each other. I rediscovered my passion and wrote my first novel during Nanowrimo ’06 and have not stopped writing since.

I am a full time mother of two girls, writer and domestic goddess, working towards my goal of publication.

Graphic Designer
Juanita McConnachie (Profile)
http://writersblocknz.weebly.com/

I'm JJ and I'm a writerholic. 

I write MG and YA fantasy, usually crossed with other genres like steampunk, romance, dystopian and humour. 

I'll read anything that comes close to being classified as fantasy or young adult, but I love a good thriller and Dean Koontz is my hero. 

When I'm not writing, or daydreaming about making friends with dragons, obtaining magical powers or skydiving from a zeppelin, I dabble in graphic and web design, and tutor English literature.