Better off Read

• Ep 150: Danielle Dutton and Pip chat about Marine Object by Eileen Agar

  On June 10, my book Audition comes out in the United States with Coffee House Press and Canada with Strange Light To celebrate this, and with massive support from Laura Graveline at Coffee House Press, I've recorded three special episodes of Better off Read which feature three of my favourite writers published by Coffee House Press. In this first special episode I get to talk to Danielle Dutton whose astounding Praire, Dresses, Art Other was published by Coffee House Press in 2024. I love Danielle's work so much. There is this astounding hum to it that chimes with all the things I love - formal experimentation, language made new, visceral and emotive rendering of land and art. Danielle is always doing something interesting and she is one of my favourite people in the world to talk to. I was really grateful to get to talk to her here. Danielle brought an amazing sculptural work by Eileen Agar as a starting point for this discussion about Danielle's work and writing in general. The work is Marine Object by Eileen Agar and you can see it by clicking this link to the Tate website The next podcast will be out this time next week. Action: KILL THE BILL! The closing date for submissions on Regulatory Standards Bill is 1.00pm, Monday, 23 June 2025 The point of the RSB is to try to make all future governments follow a rigid set of ideological “principles” handpicked by David Seymour when they are making laws. These principles would: Exclude Te Tiriti o Waitangi entirely. Require the government to pay corporations if new rules impact their property, even if those rules are to stop pollution, protect nature, or prevent harm to people and communities. Prioritise private property and “individual freedom” over environmental protection, public safety, and indigenous rights. You can make a submission here You can support Better off Read financially at Buy Better off Read a Coffee Music in Better off Read was made by Brent McIntyre.

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• Ep 149: Saraid de Silva and Pip chat live at Featherston Booktown

  This recording was made live at Featherston Booktown on 10 May 2025. It was a really sunny day and Saraid and I sat in the Featherston Library with the sun streaming in the windows with a really great group of people. Saraid is an amazing writing. Saraid's novel Amma is a really great work of fiction and I recommend to anyone who hasn't read it yet. At the moment I'm asking guests to offer and object for discussion. Saraid brought along a suite of articles about money and housing and how these impact writing and writers. Here are links to the three articles: "‘Secure, affordable homes are the stuff of fiction’: how young writers are responding to the UK housing crisis" by Keiran Goddard published in The Guardian on 3 Feb 2024 "‘Our rental system is rigged’: young novelists on their generation’s housing crisis" by Daisy Lafarge, Okechukwu Nzelu, Amber Medland and Michael Magee published in The Guardian on 23 April 2023. 'Don’t give up your day job: how Australia’s favourite authors are making ends meet' by Rafqa Touma published in The Guardian on 16 December 2022 Thanks to amazing writer and snap-shot getter G. B. Ralph for the photos. G. B. Ralph is a Kiwi author of cosy mysteries and romantic comedies. His writing features chaotic yet lovable characters getting into trouble, an astonishing amount of crime, and handsome men falling for each other. You can find out more about G.B. Ralph's books at his website here June on Better off Read My book Audition is being released in the United States (Coffee House Press) and Canada (Strange Light) on 10 June. To celebrate this, and with amazing support from Laura Gaveline at Coffee House Press, I'll be podcasting three special episodes of the podcast with Coffee House Press writers. I'm really grateful to the writers concerned for their time and their work. These special episodes will come out over June. Action: Gaza Funds صندوق مالي لغزة Gaza Funds is a project that connects people to crowdfunding campaigns for individuals and families from Gaza. Each time the page is reloaded, a different campaign appears. While the rotation is randomized, campaigns for the sick/injured and campaigns close to meeting their goals are prioritized. We never want any of these campaigns to go stagnant, so we make sure to also prioritize fundraisers that haven't had a donation in a while. As existing fundraisers meet their goals, they will be replaced with other fundraisers that need your help. Here's a link to Gaza Funds You can support Better off Read financially at Buy Better off Read a Coffee

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• Ep 148: Erin Harrington and Pip chat

  I've been a fan of Erin Harrington's work for a long time. I love her writing and research. Over the past six months I got to work on the same floor as Erin while I was one of the Ursula Bethell Fellow at Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha where Erin is a Senior Lecturer. It was so great to talk to Erin about this article: 'As we shovel in distractions, the inner life grows dim' by Charlotte Wood which appeared in The Guardian in 2020 during lockdown. Here's a link to the article The article was published in The Luminous Solution: Creativity, Resilience & the Inner-Life Charlotte Woods book about creative thinking. Here's a link to the book A Horse Walks into a Bar - Free Workshop Thanks so much to everyone who attended and has watched the video of this workshop. If you haven't watched the workshop yet you can learn more about it and get a link to it at my website Action: Gaza Funds صندوق مالي لغزة Gaza Funds is a project that connects people to crowdfunding campaigns for individuals and families from Gaza. Each time the page is reloaded, a different campaign appears. While the rotation is randomized, campaigns for the sick/injured and campaigns close to meeting their goals are prioritized. We never want any of these campaigns to go stagnant, so we make sure to also prioritize fundraisers that haven't had a donation in a while. As existing fundraisers meet their goals, they will be replaced with other fundraisers that need your help. Here's a link to Gaza Funds Disability Support Services Community consultation - runs from 10 February to 24 March 2025. Almost a year since the initial sudden and unjust changes to disability support service, fresh consultation has begun on options for changes to flexible funding. Here's a link to the submissions process An interview with Joanne Dacombe who is the immediate past President of the Disabled Persons Assembly, and Jade Farrar who is the chair of the National Enabling Good Lives leadership group is really helpful. Here's a link to the RNZ Interview You can support Better off Read financially at Buy Better off Read a Coffee

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• Ep 147: Isabelle McNeur and Pip chat

  It was so great to catch up with Isabelle before Christmas and talk about her work. Isabelle writes writes LGBT Romance, Paranormal and Horror Young Adult books. The best place to find out about Isabelle's work is on her website A Horse Walks into a Bar - Free Workshop Thanks so much to everyone who attended and has watched the video of this workshop. If you haven't watched the workshop yet you can learn more about it and get a link to it at my website Action: Submission to evidence brief and position statement into the use of puberty blockers At the end of November, Manatū Hauora the Ministry of Health released their long-awaited evidence brief and position statement into the use of puberty blockers for trans children. Along with this, the Government has asked them to open up public consultation on whether additional restrictions need to be put in place for trans children accessing puberty blockers. Which is odd. It’s highly unusual and totally inappropriate to open up public consultation for a medical matter that – by the Ministry’s own press release – affects a little over 100 children per year. InsideOUT have put together a very useful guide to putting a submission to this consultation Submissions close on 20 January 2025. While your on the InsideOUT website you might like to read about the things they do and consider donating to their amazing work. You can support Better off Read financially at Buy Better off Read a Coffee

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• Ep 146: Olive Nuttall and Pip chat at Verb 2024 LitCrawl

  Very grateful to Damien Levi for programming this live recording of Better off Read with the amazing Olive Nuttall at Verb Wellington 2024 Thanks also to Alistair from Alistair’s Music who hosted this event. Olive and I talked about swords and Olive's book kitten published by Te Herenga Waka University Press Content Note: This conversation includes mentions of CSA. Action: New Zealand Ministry of Health - Impact of Puberty Blockers in Gender-Dysphoric Adolescents: An evidence brief I know there is a lot going on but I'd love it if you took some time to read about the Ministry of Health's evidence brief and position paper on puberty blockers. In particular this article which reports on leading transgender health professionals' concern that the government is directing the Ministry of Health to consult the public over gender affirming healthcare. These health professionals say, Public consultation on a medical matter is inappropriate. You can read the article here: Transgender health professionals worried about public consultation over gender affirming healthcare I also found this statement on the paper from Gender Minorities Aotearoa extremely useful. Trans-only restrictions Unfortunately, I fear we are in for some dark times for transgender rights. The government's reaction and direction concerning this paper, released the day after Transgender Day of Remembrance, feels like it may be a sign of things to come. You can support Better off Read financially at Buy Better off Read a Coffee Better off Read Website: https://better-read.com/

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