Hollie spoke to Airana Ngarewa (Ngati Ruanui, Ngarauru, Ngaruahine) about his debut novel The Bone Tree. The Bone Tree is a gritty coming of age novel, where the unforgettable young protagonist faces immense challenges, and the stakes are life or death - yet it also has a lyrical beauty, and a powerful message of love at its heart.
What does a typical day look like for you?
Wake up, read, write, work, read, write, train. I find my R & R in variety. As long as I am reading widely and mixing up my training I am quite content. I also tend to do this all with podcasts and YouTube blaring in the background which keeps it interesting and makes me very hard to live laugh.
What are you currently reading?
Dissemination by Jacques Derrida; Te Koroua me te Moana (a translation of The Old Man and the Sea into te reo) and Ngāti Ruanui, a short history of my iwi.
Where did the idea for The Bone Tree come from?
The story runs adjacent to so many of our stories in Pātea after the closing of the freezing works and the economic collapse of South Taranaki. You could say the idea came from every conversation I had growing up.
What was your thought about setting the book in Taranaki?
We claim direct descent from Taranaki Maunga so the story had to be set here, under his shadow. The next book will be set here too!
How important was it for you to include te reo Māori in the story?
We call te reo Māori te reo rangatira: the chiefly language or the language of chiefs. So many concepts and ideas are beyond translation. To capture the thoughts and experiences of Māori across time, the book had to be sprinkled with the language.
How did you feel when you heard The Bone Tree was going to be published?
I am pretty stoic. Publication felt like the next natural step of writing a novel. What has got me excited is the love and care of Moa Press. I am incredibly grateful for their guidance and wisdom.
What is your desert island book?
Tangata Whenua: An Illustrated History by Atholl Anderson, Judith Binney and Aroha Harris.
What is your favourite snack to enjoy while writing?
Toast.