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Erica

@ericastretton.bsky.social
287 followers 150 following 114 posts

writer, reviewer, editor at Kete Books.

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Reposted by Erica
Martin Shaw @thebooksdesk.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
"I love finding stuff out, planning stuff, and making up stories—so I was always going to be a librarian, a crime fiction writer, or a scheming pathological liar." @molly-cri.bsky.social on her day job's affinities with her nighttime fictional pursuits www.ketebooks.co.nz/articles/who...
ketebooks.co.nz
Whodunit? Ask the Librarian
Whodunit? Ask the Librarian
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Jill McCabe Johnson @jillmccabejohnson.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Nothing makes my palms sweat like being asked Who’s your favorite poet? I don’t know. All of them?
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Martin Shaw @thebooksdesk.bsky.social · 29/06/2026
Glory be, @pipadam.bsky.social's Audition is shortlisted for this year's Ursula Le Guin Prize for Fiction!! @coffeehousepress.bsky.social @strangelightbooks.bsky.social @thwupbooks.bsky.social @giramondobooks.bsky.social www.ursulakleguin.com/prize26?ss_s...
ursulakleguin.com
Ursula K. Le Guin — 2026 Prize for Fiction
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paulpro @mariopro.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
Exit strategy substack.com/pub/deadder
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NinjaKitty 忍者キティ🥷🐈‍⬛ @ninjakitty.bsky.social · 16/05/2026
NCEA gave us the ability and flexibility as teachers to assess out students outside the bullshit rigidity of exams. If you support this NACT bullshit but hated school, well done. You’ve made it go back 40 years
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scilion.bsky.social @scilion.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
Sigh as a parent of kids in that early teens age gap so much of their independence is via aps even at school. Communication from high schools, sports teams, queer kids, disabled kids, ND kids, all kind of minorities find friends there. Surely under 16 it's on us as parents to monitor & guide usage.
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Char Of AotearoaNZ @kiwichar.bsky.social · 10/05/2026
My Dad, and his peers at the local bowls club, received 4 years of “fees free” university, allowing them to start their working lives completely debt free. Choices. 💭 #nzpol #OneTermGovernment #NZ www.rnz.co.nz/news/politic...
rnz.co.nz
Fees-free university scheme 'didn't achieve any goals', Christopher Luxon says
The scheme, which gave tertiary students their final year of study free, is being scrapped.
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wwxwashere.bsky.social @wwxwashere.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
2 lines into a book: this is the worst. it’s so slow. i don’t know what any of these names mean. what’s going on? 20 chapters into a book: i don’t know how i’m going to continue living when this book ends
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Erica @ericastretton.bsky.social · 29/03/2026
I’d been reading the news so used ‘Trump’ as my Wordle starting word yesterday. And the result, well, I like it.
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RNZ News Feeds @rnzrss.bsky.social · 29/03/2026
Free dental care receives widespread support in new survey
rnz.co.nz
Free dental care receives widespread support in new survey
Respondents across the political spectrum endorsed the idea in a recent Talbot Mills Research survey, commissioned by advocacy group Dental For All.
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Christchurch City Libraries Ngā Kete Wānanga o Ōtautahi @christchurchlib.bsky.social · 26/03/2026
Did you know that Pride Poetry Hour is on tomorrow night at Tūranga? And that it's open to all ages? And that it's free but requires bookings? events.humanitix.com/pride-poetry... #christchurchpride
events.humanitix.com
Pride Poetry Hour
Join Ray Shipley for a special, early edition of their beloved 'Late Night Poetry Hour' in celebration of Pride 2026!
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Kirsty Johnston @kirstyjohnston.bsky.social · 16/03/2026
The irony of the government being taken to court for cutting climate policies that would have significantly reduced NZ’s oil consumption from cars - our biggest user - and freight, just as the country faces an oil shock is ... difficult to ignore www.rnz.co.nz/news/environ...
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D Jukic She/her @dejanajuk.bsky.social · 15/03/2026
“But unlike 1979, we now have EVs. Except, well, actually you probably don’t. Because the Luxon/Peters/ Seymour Government spent the last two years systemically punching NZ’s car electrification movement in the face. Then, when it was out cold on the pavement, kicking it in the head.” #nzpol
stuff.co.nz
This would be the week to drive an EV. Thanks for nothing, coalition
OPINION: Unlike the oil crisis in the 1980s, today we have EVs. Except, well, actually you probably don’t.
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Erik Kennedy @erikkennedy.com · 03/03/2026
An honour for me and a lovely thing for my book. So pleased that 'Sick Power Trip' is shortlisted in the Ockhams. Full of gratitude. 🩵 🩷 @thwupbooks.bsky.social www.nzbookawards.nz/new-zealand-...
Mary and Peter Biggs Award for Poetry

Black Sugarcane by Nafanua Purcell Kersel (Satupa‘itea, Faleālupo, Aleipata, Tuaefu) (Te Herenga Waka University Press)*

No Good by Sophie van Waardenberg (Auckland University Press)*

Sick Power Trip by Erik Kennedy (Te Herenga Waka University Press)

Terrier, Worrier: A Poem in Five Parts by Anna Jackson (Auckland University Press)

* = first book
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Tyler, from the Internet @tylerfromtheinternet.com · 02/02/2026
The secret to finding 100% of your typos is just to wait until the piece is published, don't worry you'll find them all
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Leanne Radojkovich @linedealer.bsky.social · 04/02/2026
Grateful for this review of Hailman - & to have it called "a really thoughtful and memorable read"... I love that. Thank you so much @kaggsy59.bsky.social & @theemmapress.bsky.social 🌨️
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Richard Hulse @richardhulse.bsky.social · 19/01/2026
This is a hammer. It is my only tool. It does not seem to be working, so this year I will swing it more frequently and with greater vigour to get us back on track.
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Nat Baker @natbaker.bsky.social · 07/01/2026
DELIGHTED to be included as a summer fiction writer for NZ Listener 🥳🙏 A wonderful way to start 2026, and in such fine company, esp @antzlapwood.bsky.social 🥂🥰
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Madam Snazzy @moatatamaira.bsky.social · 25/12/2025
I’ve done some catalogue searching and am fairly confident in saying that 5/10 titles in this list do not exist (1, 2, 4, 5 and 7). Sloppy, unacceptable, and a real kick in the guts to real authors with real books they’d love people to buy and read!
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Pip Adam @pipadam.bsky.social · 03/12/2025
Today (4/12) every dollar you donate to Orange Sky Aotearoa will be DOUBLED. Orange Sky does amazing work supporting individuals & whānau experiencing homelessness & hardship through access to free laundry & warm showers. give.orangesky.org.nz/holidayappea...
give.orangesky.org.nz
Holiday Appeal 2025
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Rob Delaney @robdelaney.bsky.social · 29/11/2025
Bong Joon Ho hit me up for the squad you legend deadline.com/2025/11/bong...
Bong Joon Ho took a characteristically radical approach when questioned on his thoughts around the rise of Al technology at the jury press conference of the Marrakech Film Festival on Saturday.
The Korean director, who is president of the jury, gave two responses, one measured, the other deeply personal.
"My official answer is, Al is good because it's the very beginning of the human race finally seriously thinking about what only humans can do. But my personal answer is, I'm going to organize a military squad, and their mission is to destroy AI," he said.
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Assiduously Julie @awaterevalley.bsky.social · 20/11/2025
How cool is this! Metallica donate $20,000 to Auckland Women’s Centre www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainmen...
nzherald.co.nz
‘Feminist allies’: Metallica donates $20k to Auckland Women’s Centre
Maia Hall first thought the heavy metal band’s donation offer was an online scam.
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Leanne Radojkovich @linedealer.bsky.social · 20/11/2025
Wrote a #shortstory abt sneaking smokes & pills, taking photos, & setting a doll on fire. Huge thanks to @lostballoon.bsky.social for giving Double Image a home 🌿 tinyurl.com/mtsn5yha
tinyurl.com
Double Image by Leanne Radojkovich
I was sixteen, finished with school, and couldn’t see a way forward. Went to stay at Uncle Ray’s. He’d been clearing the guttering and had fallen off the roof. Mum and I went down to look after him…
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Christchurch City Libraries Ngā Kete Wānanga o Ōtautahi @christchurchlib.bsky.social · 19/11/2025
Dublin Literary Award nominated titles are out! Kia ora to the writers from Aotearoa New Zealand on this list: 📗1985 by Dominic Hoey 📕Delirious by Damien Wilkins 📘Kataraina by Becky Manawatu and - our pick - 📙The Mires by Tina Makereti. dublinliteraryaward.ie/features/new... #Booksky #ReadNZ ^DR
A collage of nominated titles for the Dublin Literary Award
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Erica @ericastretton.bsky.social · 06/11/2025
Teens need to get home from exams at midday, half an hour bus ride, akl city. Y11 waits 15 mins and catches bus straight home that takes 40 mins. Y9 gets impatient, catches bus to another suburb, hops on train for one stop, then catches another bus home, taking the same amount of time.
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Mark S @fff182.bsky.social · 27/10/2025
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Tressie McMillan Cottom @tressiemcphd.bsky.social · 23/10/2025
That’s the kind of kneejerk dismissive advice that makes me violent. Telling people to just grow their own food is tantamount to telling them to eat cake.
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Richard Hills @richardhills.bsky.social · 20/10/2025
So the Prime Ministers new attack on teachers is their 12 weeks of school holidays which we all know many teachers work through. Regardless. NZ Parliament has 20+ weeks of recess each year including a far longer summer break than most professions including teaching!!!
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Paul Le Comte 🇳🇿🇨🇦📷 @paullecomtephoto.nz · 20/10/2025
650 Principals are saying 'are you fucking mad', Lord give me the confidence & ignorance of a conservative politician. newsroom.co.nz/2025/10/21/i...
newsroom.co.nz
If the curriculum ain't broke, don't fix it
From Auckland University - Opinion: How much did the Govt pay for a curriculum that is so inferior to the version already mandated in our schools? And how else might we have spent that money?
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Craig Renney @clrenney.bsky.social · 05/10/2025
Since the election, there are 37,243 fewer 15-19 year olds in filled jobs. The jobs market for young people is as bad - if not worse - than the GFC. So adding 6% to the cost of tuition fees and halving apprenticeship boost support makes life even harder. Brilliant work National.
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Oliver L @eey0re.bsky.social · 27/09/2025
I'm so embarrassed for my country right now. Luxon is an empty suit, so shameful, such an unprincipled coward.
Map of the world showing New Zealand as one of the few countries not recognising the State of Palestine.
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Erica @ericastretton.bsky.social · 16/09/2025
I had the most wonderful time at the Surrey last year and am very grateful to have had the opportunity. Congratulations to all on this year’s longlist!
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Newsroom NZ @newsroom.co.nz · 15/09/2025
The books sector sets out a new five-year plan.
newsroom.co.nz
Authors lobby Govt - good luck with that
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Anna Scaife @whatelseanna.bsky.social · 12/09/2025
newsroom.co.nz/2025/09/13/s... Story up!
newsroom.co.nz
Short story: The jeweller's replacement, by Anna Scaife
When Malcolm saw his wife Susan in a burgundy bathrobe at Tony's townhouse
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Elizabeth Knox @elizabethknoxnz.bsky.social · 11/09/2025
Lovely review in Kete of Kings of this World www.ketebooks.co.nz/en/reviews/r...
ketebooks.co.nz
Review: Kings of this World, by Elizabeth Knox
SR Manssen is taken with the teenagers' quick wit and strength in Elizabeth Knox's latest YA novel KINGS OF THIS WORLD....
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Bill Manhire @pacificraft.bsky.social · 05/09/2025
Paula Morris farewells Kelly Ana Morey. www.anzliterature.com/feature/kell...
anzliterature.com
Kelly Ana Morey: 1968–2025 – Academy of New Zealand Literature
‘I’ve always been the pain in the ass who wanted to row her own waka in her own way.’
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Christchurch City Libraries Ngā Kete Wānanga o Ōtautahi @christchurchlib.bsky.social · 31/08/2025
WORD Christchurch Festival 2025 is over - what a great ride it has been! Kia ora and congratulations to our friends at #WORDChch & all the WORD workers. Thanks to the writers, and readers who came along to sessions. Check out our coverage at my.christchurchcitylibraries.com/word-christc...
Ali and SusieLove at First Line: Poetry dating show - Una Cruickshank, Erik Kennedy, Claudia Jardine, Josiah Morgan, Chris TseRoimata Smail - Te Tiriti 101The sellout Catherine Chidgey crowd.
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Erica @ericastretton.bsky.social · 31/08/2025
Climate.
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RNZ News Feeds @rnzrss.bsky.social · 26/08/2025
Data shows 'exciting' shift in Kiwis' attitudes to te reo Māori
rnz.co.nz
Data shows 'exciting' shift in Kiwis' attitudes to te reo Māori
The challenge is to find "the levers" to accelerate the rate of change, an advocate says.
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Lilah Sturges @lilahsturges.com · 20/08/2025
Trans people are worth protecting. Not because we are amazing people (although we are) or because we offer a great deal to society (although we do) or because we are fine as hell (we are). We are worth protecting because we are HUMAN BEINGS, and it’s amazing how often that simple fact is forgotten.
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Rachael King @rachaelking70.bsky.social · 06/08/2025
I am feeling so ill about that Erica Stamford video gleefully announcing that school students are going to be assessed by AI. Esp the bit where she says you’re 2x as likely to get an ‘excellence’ with your own teacher so they are going to iron out that ‘inconsistency’. We are fucked.
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Erica @ericastretton.bsky.social · 06/08/2025
In my kid’s lacrosse tournament permission form: Can your child confidently swim 60m? Erm yes but what sort of lacrosse will this be…?
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te kootahekore ranapiri @ired0mi.bsky.social · 20/07/2025
this Ngaati Porou takataa wa is the lifeblood of so many of our takataapui works from @antzlapwood.bsky.social "Home Theatre" to Ruby Solly's "The Artist" to @tainuitillidienui.bsky.social "Poorhara" and so many more in our community and beyond. I'm so so so glad she is being recognised in this way
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Rachael King @rachaelking70.bsky.social · 11/07/2025
Poetic genius.
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Te Herenga Waka University Press @thwupbooks.bsky.social · 06/07/2025
Yay for Nafanua! This is wonderful news 🎉 www.wgtn.ac.nz/news/2025/07...
wgtn.ac.nz
Nafanua Purcell Kersel named as 2025 Emerging Pasifika Writer in Residence | News | Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington
The University's International Institute of Modern Letters (IIML) is delighted to announce the appointment of Nafanua Purcell Kersel as the Emerging Pasifika Writer in Residence for 2025.
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Hannah Marshall @hannahmarsh.bsky.social · 02/07/2025
a wee taster of my book to whet your appetite #booksky #author #YA www.ketebooks.co.nz/en/interview...
ketebooks.co.nz
Extract: It's a Bit More Complicated Than That
Zelle and Callum used to be best friends, but they haven't spoken in three years: not since the tragedy that wrenched them apart, and Zelle moved away. But now Zelle is back, and their lives are about...
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Anna Scaife @whatelseanna.bsky.social · 30/06/2025
Never posted this here … ReadingRoom published my creepy arachnid story late last year which made me very happy. Another coming soonish 🤞 newsroom.co.nz/2024/09/28/s...
newsroom.co.nz
Short story: Final Notice, by Anna Scaife
"Virginia found more baby spiders every day for the next week..."
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Erica @ericastretton.bsky.social · 30/06/2025
Well, this made me feel despairing today.
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Claire Mabey @clairemabey.bsky.social · 30/06/2025
The ROI on the guest of honour programme has been proven so why did MCH deny funding for NZ to be guest of honour programme at the biggest children’s book fair in the world? How can they value literacy if they don’t value the industry that makes children’s books! www.thesapling.co.nz
thesapling.co.nz
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