iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Anthony Lapwood @antzlapwood.bsky.social · 17h

Great lineup! And I'm looking forward to chatting with Molly Crighton and Damien Levi in phase 3 about... More than Murder 🔪📚

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Anthony Lapwood @antzlapwood.bsky.social · 09/10/2026

Remember, remember the 5th of November! That's when my new #pukapuka Mincemeat will be launched 🐶 6pm, Unity Books, Wellington. Free, all welcome, but RSVP appreciated. www.eventbrite.com/e/book-launc...

eventbrite.com

Book Launch: Mincemeat by Anthony Lapwood

Join Āporo Press at Unity Books for the book launch of ‘Mincemeat’ by Anthony Lapwood.

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IIML @modernletters.bsky.social · 08/10/2026

Only one party has a comprehensive arts policy, in case you’re wondering

thebigidea.co.nz

The election is looming, so where are the arts?

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Anthony Lapwood @antzlapwood.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

6. “The Semplica Girl Diaries” (in 10th of December) by George Saunders A middle-aged man tries to maintain his middle-class status by pursuing a horrifying trend in lawn decorations. What are we willing to do, to feel relevant and loved? This downward spiral is captured in terrific diary entries.

A photo of Anthony in a burgundy jacket and ghost-print tee, standing in an alley. The cover of a book is superimposed over his face: 10th of December by George Saunders.

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Anthony Lapwood @antzlapwood.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

5. The New Animals by Pip Adam A story of small pressures mounting in familiar ways. Realistcore. Until the final third breaks into uncharted waters, with a surreality powered by the absurdity of ordinary life. Humans are adaptive animals, but what terrible situations do we create for ourselves?

A photo of Anthony in a burgundy jacket and ghost-print tee, standing in an alley. The cover of a book is superimposed over his face: The New Animals by Pip Adam.

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Anthony Lapwood @antzlapwood.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

4. The Devils by Dostoyevsky As a teen, it made a terrific sound as it flew over my head. I've re-read it since and what always strikes me is the structure. We open with 100 pages dedicated to a father figure who is then relegated to the background – but lingers in the minds of the next generation.

A photo of Anthony in a burgundy jacket and ghost-print tee, standing in an alley. The cover of a book is superimposed over his face: The Devils by Dostoyevsky.

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Anthony Lapwood @antzlapwood.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

3. The New York Trilogy by Paul Auster Borrowing from detective fiction, this trilogy is respectful of its pulp roots but literary in its ambitions. These wonderfully playful short novels foreground slippery themes of self-knowledge. Auster makes a cameo (the same can't be said of me in Mincemeat).

A photo of Anthony in a burgundy jacket and ghost-print tee, standing in an alley. The cover of a book is superimposed over his face: The New York Trilogy by Paul Auster.

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Anthony Lapwood @antzlapwood.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

2. Don Quixote by Cervantes The power of stories to shape subjectivity is central to this classic and to Mincemeat. Taking control of the narrative can be harder! Don Quixote and Mincemeat are also picaresque-ish, with episodes of their leading men antagonising neighbours and strangers alike.

A photo of Anthony in a burgundy jacket and ghost-print tee, standing in an alley. The cover of a book is superimposed over his face: Don Quixote by Cervantes.

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Anthony Lapwood @antzlapwood.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

1. A modern bundle The Shards by Bret Easton Ellis, Pet by Catherine Chidgey, and Slow Down, You're Here by Brannavan Gnanalingam. Thrilling novels looking at suburban experiences of marginilaised people through variations on the crime genre.

A photo of Anthony in a burgundy jacket and ghost-print tee, standing in an alley. The spines of three books are superimposed over his face: The Shards by Bret Easton Ellis, Pet by Catherine Chidgey, and Slow Down, You're Here by Brannavan Gnanalingam.

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Anthony Lapwood @antzlapwood.bsky.social · 07/10/2026

Every book has a whakapapa and I wanted to shout out a few influences for my forthcoming novel Mincemeat 📚💚 #MincemeatNovel #pukapuka

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Anthony Lapwood @antzlapwood.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

What I would say to you is... We have become a very negative, wet and whiny, inward-looking country. I'm just entitled to the entitlements. I'm wealthy and sorted. Cry me a river. Frankly, I don't care. #NZpol

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Anthony Lapwood @antzlapwood.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Interesting discussion of the short story form and its place in contemporary Aotearoa writing. newsroom.co.nz/2026/10/03/a...

newsroom.co.nz

A short story is about to pay $15,000

Notes on the state of the NZ short story ahead of tonight's Sargeson Prize

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Anthony Lapwood @antzlapwood.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

That kingmaker debate gave me some faith in our political leaders (Chloë for PM please) but really undermined my faith in the journos. The questions were often asinine and petty and their sniping and giggling was unprofessional. Voters could have got much more out of it with decent moderators #nzpol

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IIML @modernletters.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Spotlight on three indie publishers: Spoor Books, Āporo Press and Old King Press

thebigidea.co.nz

How are independent presses changing our publishing landscape?

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Anthony Lapwood @antzlapwood.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

First review of my novel Mincemeat up on Goodreads – short but sweet. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ #MincemeatNovel #pukapuka

Screenshot of a Goodreads review by a user named Melissa. Text reads:

Review of advance copy received from Publisher.

An eerie yet humorous exploration of those closest to us. Definitely recommend!

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Thomas Ha @thomasha.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

i should clarify, when i write people doing bad things, it's because i am bad. they are me. more importantly, when you read about those bad things, they also become you. that's how story works. in fact, you are going to think about murder before this skeet ends. how's that feel, sicko.

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Anthony Lapwood @antzlapwood.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

6. WE CALL UPON THE AUTHOR TO EXPLAIN – NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS What we once thought we had, we didn't And what we have now will never be that way again So we call upon the author to explain I said Prolix! Prolix! There's nothing a pair of scissors can't fix youtu.be/4ABm2-cUahQ?...

youtu.be

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - We Call Upon The Author (Live at St Luke's, London) Pro-shot

YouTube video by bystarlight2010

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Anthony Lapwood @antzlapwood.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

5. RID OF ME – PJ HARVEY I'll tie your legs Keep you against my chest Oh, you're not rid of me Yeah, you're not rid of me I'll make you lick my injuries I'm gonna twist your head off, see 'Til you say don't you wish you never, never met her? youtu.be/KBZoL8wpZzU?...

youtu.be

PJ Harvey Rid of Me Live On The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (1993)

YouTube video by MakeitExist

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Anthony Lapwood @antzlapwood.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

4. SHOUT – TEARS FOR FEARS They gave you life And in return you gave them hell As cold as ice I hope we live to tell the tale I hope we live to tell the tale Shout, shout, let it all out These are the things I can do without Come on I'm talking to you, come on youtu.be/Ye7FKc1JQe4?...

youtu.be

Tears For Fears - Shout (Official Music Video)

YouTube video by TearsForFearsVEVO

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Anthony Lapwood @antzlapwood.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

3. JASON – PERFUME GENIUS Jason undressed me Lying on his sheets He did not do the same Even his boots were on Hoo, hoo, ooh, hoo Clumsy, shakily He ran his hands up me He was afraid Tears streaming down his face Hoo, hoo, ooh, hoo youtu.be/oIMZ-KgWwag?...

youtu.be

Perfume Genius - Jason (Live on KEXP)

YouTube video by KEXP

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Anthony Lapwood @antzlapwood.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

2. I WANT YOU TO LOVE ME – FIONA APPLE And I know none of this Will matter in the long run But I know a sound Is still a sound around no one And while I'm in this body I want somebody to want And I want what I want, and I want You to love me youtu.be/Bpm1AeTVgWk?...

youtu.be

I Want You To Love Me – Fiona Apple (Live at The New Yorker Festival 2020 HD)

YouTube video by Fiona Apple Rocks [FAN ACCOUNT]

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Anthony Lapwood @antzlapwood.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

1. HOME – DAVID BYRNE, BRIAN ENO I'm looking for a home, where the wheels are turning Home, why I keep returning Home, where my world is breaking in two Home, with the neighbors fighting Home, always so exciting Home, were my parents telling the truth? youtu.be/hRnFBM8zAH8?...

youtu.be

Home

YouTube video by David Byrne - Topic

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Anthony Lapwood @antzlapwood.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Music is important to my writing. It helps me find cues into mood and tone, insights into character and incident, and just keeps me company. The playlist for my book Mincemeat is out now. I've threaded 6 picks below which give a wee sense of the novel 🔊🤘 #MincemeatNovel tidal.com/playlist/a1b...

tidal.com

Mincemeat (a novel)

Playlist - Mincemeat (a novel) - 39 items

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IIML @modernletters.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

Spread the word - the IIML’s online journal Turbine | Kapohau is open for submissions of poetry, creative nonfiction and fiction until 1 November. We want to read your work! (Please check submission guidelines before sending)

turbinekapohau.org.nz

Current Issue - TURBINE | KAPOHAU

EDITORIAL Welcome POETRY ada duffyMauatua Fa’ara Reynolds🔈Miriama GemmellRebecca HawkesAnna Hoek-SimsJacksonHebe KearneyErik KennedyTrevor LandersMitch MarksHelena Leon MayerElliot McKenzieRuben MitaH...

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Anthony Lapwood @antzlapwood.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

New author photos! With enormous thanks to Trinity Thompson-Browne. Trin says, "I came away feeling inspired and hopeful after talking with you about all things queer love, art, writing, the process and the work we sur/render ourselves to." I felt EXACTLY the same. Kia ora, e hoa! 📷😁 #MincemeatNovel

Anthony in jeans, a burgundy blazer and black ghost-print tee, standing in an alley between bungalows.

Anthony in a burgundy blazer and black ghost-print tee, photographed at an angle between two flaring orange bars.

Anthony in jeans, a burgundy blazer and black ghost-print tee, leaning on an iron railing in front of a colourful bungalow.

Anthony in a burgundy blazer and black ghost-print tee, seated in front of an iron stairwell handrail.

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Anthony Lapwood @antzlapwood.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Thanks! Congrats on your new pukapuka too. Love a good verse novel.

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Anthony Lapwood @antzlapwood.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

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Anthony Lapwood @antzlapwood.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

"Once prediction shapes the choices in front of us, we lose the ability to tell the difference between what people wanted and what the system made easy to want."

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Anthony Lapwood @antzlapwood.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

I feel narrative arts used to be more open to forms that suited their content and themes. The drive for marketability now means conventions (eg, tidy story shapes) can undermine or defang a literary work, even when its subject is otherwise worthy. Death by book club fiction.

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Erik Kennedy @erikkennedy.com · 14/09/2026

'In a culture veering toward deifying "the point", I am coming more and more to the belief now that everything other than the obvious is essential. Lately I have found that anything I read that is unexpected feeds me.' www.killyourdarlings.com.au/article/resi...

killyourdarlings.com.au

Resisting the Predictable

Our cultural obsession with efficiency is killing original and inventive writing.

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Anthony Lapwood @antzlapwood.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Utterly delighted to share the cover for my novel, Mincemeat! On shelves in November. Painting by artistic magician Hannah Ireland & design by prolific virtuoso @toddatticus.com Lovely comments from the brilliant @catherinechidgey.bsky.social & @brannavan.bsky.social #pukapuka #MincemeatNovel

Front cover for a novel. It has a purple background and features a painting of a Labrador in mixed natural colours, who is facing the reader and wearing a folded paper hat with green and pink checks.

Block text against an ice blue background across the top of the cover gives the author and title:

ANTHONY LAPWOOD
MINCEMEAT

A quote beneath the title says:

"A wonderfully unsettling novel" - Catherine Chidgey

"A wonderfully unsettling novel, shot through with emotional sleight of hand. In prose that feels drawn from a fever dream, Lapwood asks whether the truth about our families and ourselves is something we uncover or something we create. Elegant, haunting and unexpectedly funny.”

— Catherine Chidgey

“A missing persons mystery that morphs into an Antonioni-esque existential thriller – Mincemeat is a constantly surprising and taut piece of work.”

— Brannavan Gnanalingam

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Anthony Lapwood @antzlapwood.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

I've been lucky enough to have Hannah contribute an illustration for the cover of my new book... Reveal coming soon! 😁

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Anthony Lapwood @antzlapwood.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

"I’m interested in keeping some space in my practice where things can be unresolved, private or even a little bit silly. I’m trying to protect the part of making that existed before I knew anyone was watching." Great interview with painter Hannah Ireland 🎨 thespinoff.co.nz/atea/31-08-2...

thespinoff.co.nz

Meet the artist who created a new portrait every day for a year

Hannah Ireland on making 365 portraits in a year – and rediscovering the joy of making art for herself.

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Pip Adam @pipadam.bsky.social · 25/08/2026

The Big Idea is doing so much good heavy lifting on the heartbreaking demise of arts funding in Aotearoa. Thank you Samuel Walsh for this deep dive through OIA. www.thebigidea.co.nz/stories/omis...

thebigidea.co.nz

Omissions, inconsistencies, and red flags: Inside CNZ’s AOG…

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Anthony Lapwood @antzlapwood.bsky.social · 21/08/2026

"In our convenience-obsessed world it’s more important than ever to celebrate the existence of literary friction, the kind of writing that doesn’t go down in one easy gulp, that makes you sit in your uncertainty or even discomfort."

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Anthony Lapwood @antzlapwood.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

"My next book project goes beyond a simple clinical dissection of a critically underappreciated corpus of cultural production by ripping out the heart and feasting upon the bloody, palpitating mass of children’s bedtime stories."

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Anthony Lapwood @antzlapwood.bsky.social · 27/07/2026

It was a real treat chairing Ingrid Horrocks and Lawrence Patchett today, for the @modernletters.bsky.social Writers on Mondays programme. My favourite insight was the importance of challenging ourselves to see characters more deeply. The act of compassion is essential to the art of fiction 📚💚

Selfie of me (in the middle) with Ingrid and Lawrence before going on stage.

Photo of me and Ingrid seated on stage while Lawrence reads at the podium. The stage is at the front of the vibrant Rongomaraeroa at Te Papa, and there is a good sized crowd in the foreground.

Photo of me, Ingrid and Lawrence seated on stage at the front of Rongomaraeroa at Te Papa, after the event.

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IIML @modernletters.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

Today!

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Anthony Lapwood @antzlapwood.bsky.social · 24/07/2026

I'll be chatting with Ingrid and Lawrence on Monday about short stories! Come and join us at Te Papa 📚💚

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Anthony Lapwood @antzlapwood.bsky.social · 21/07/2026

Win books! And recap the chat with Pip, Jackie and me if you missed out. We discussed genre, world building, satellites, experimentation, AI, our origin stories, and more!

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Anthony Lapwood @antzlapwood.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

This was such a nice chat! Thanks both 😸😸

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Jackie Lee Morrison @jaxies.bsky.social · 17/07/2026

Then, the last Marginalia session for today, come join @antzlapwood.bsky.social and @pipadam.bsky.social for the lunchtime sesh REALITY BITES at 1pm NZ, chatting all things speculative fiction. www.youtube.com/live/Rj84y8u... SEE YOU THERE 🥳

youtube.com

Marginalia '26:

YouTube video by Jackie Lee Morrison

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Anthony Lapwood @antzlapwood.bsky.social · 15/07/2026

Tomorrow! This will be a fun chat with @pipadam.bsky.social and @jaxies.bsky.social 🛸📚 The Marginalia festival kicks off today. Free, online. Get lineup and viewing details: youtube.com/@jaxieslm?si...

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A.R. Moxon @juliusgoat.bsky.social · 13/07/2026

Best “remove glasses to look at something unbelievable” in cinema history.

static.klipy.com

Jurassic Park: Dr. Grant's Surprise

Alt: Jurassic Park: Dr. Grant's Surprise

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IIML @modernletters.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

Put it in your calendar on repeat from next week: Writers on Mondays is back with some of the best new and established writers in conversation at Te Papa, 1215. First up, sparkling essays and stories from Joseph Trinidad and Shariff Burke. Free event, all welcome!

tepapa.govt.nz

Writers on Mondays: Lucky Creatures and Childish Palates – Joseph Trinidad and Shariff Burke | Te Papa

Two vibrant writers discuss their debut collections of stories and essays that explore Wellington city and belonging through food, memory, love, and quiet revolutions.

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Anthony Lapwood @antzlapwood.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

So excited to chat with Pip and Jackie in a couple of weeks! 🛸📚 #pukapuka #specfic

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