Do you want to know one of the reasons why I had the idea for Kiwi Writers? I didn't have hard facts to back it up but here's one:


90% of writing published in New Zealand is non-fiction and the remaining 10% is almost all literary fiction. Compare this to the markets of most other countries where over 50% of what is published is genre fiction. New Zealand agents and publishers send back speculative fiction work with the comment that there is no market for it in New Zealand.

And here's another:

The libraries and bookstores of New Zealand are filled with shelves of speculative fiction that people check-out, read, buy, and clamor for. Some of this speculative fiction is produced by New Zealand authors, who must first sell it and publish it through an Australian or US publisher, and then have it imported into their own country.

Broader speculative fiction to genre fiction and that's what a saw. Have NZ publishers tried to sell genre fiction to New Zealanders? The NZ publishing industry is determined to take a step forward into the e-publishing world but what about broadening what is published and promoted? There are plenty of good genre writers in NZ who have found success overseas. I would much rather be a success in my own country first but where are the opportunities?

As Ripley Patton said:

If you have evidence to the contrary, I'd LOVE to hear about it.


Ripley is gathering together speculative fiction writers with the goal of "spending the next year developing and creating a New Zealand Speculative Fiction Writers Association that will be a force to be reckoned with for years to come." If you're as passionate about speculative fiction writing and the NZ publishing industry as she is you can find out more in her blog post The Truth About Middle Earth.