Farr, Jan
IN BRIEF
Jan Farr is an author of plays, poems, stories and picture books for children. Born in Hokitika, Farr has lived all around New Zealand, and has worked as a secretary, reviewer, publicist and editor. Many of her picture books have been illustrated by Pamela Allen, and she has had various short stories published in key New Zealand anthologies. Farr has also published several stories in the School Journal.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Farr, Jan (1940 –) writes plays, poems, stories and picture books for children.
Born in Hokitika, Farr has lived all around New Zealand. She has worked as a secretary, reviewer, publicist and editor, and attended Bill Manhire's creative writing course in 1996.
Farr says about her writing: ‘I started off writing plays (stage, radio and TV) for children and adults and I still like to write dialogue. Now I try to fill in the bits in between the dialogue. Characters are important to my stories — particularly if they are a little quirky.’
Her publications, including plays, childrens books, and short stories include:
There Was a Bang Wasn’t There Rabbit? (1967); Look at Mikey (1968); Broken Horizons (1968); A Pinch and a Punch (1968); Tiki and Things that Go Bump (1970); Tom Tom and the Happy Army (1970); Super Peg (1970), with Don Farr; The Sun Rises in the West (1970); Mummy, Do Monsters Clean Their Teeth?, illustrated by Pamela Allen (1970); Gemini Man (1970); I’ll Never Forget What I Did For Alice (1970); Mummy, How Cold is a Witch’s Nose, illustrated by Pamela Allen (1973); Big Sloppy Dinosaur Socks, illustrated by Pamela Allen (1974); Mummy, are Giants Too Big for Their Boots?, illustrated by Pamela Allen (1975);‘Vampire Dances’ in 100 New Zealand Short Short Stories, ed. Graeme Lay (1997); ‘Ever After’ in Another 100 New Zealand Short Short Stories,ed. Graeme Lay (1998); ‘Fanny’s Stories’ in 100 New Zealand Short Short Stories 4, ed. Graeme Lay (2000); ‘The Outcome’, Home : New Short Stories by New Zealand writers. ed. Graeme Lay (2005).
Farr has also had several stories published in the School Journals.
Jan Farr splits her time between her Wellington and Wairarapa homes.
writers in schools information
Farr is available to visit primary schools as part of the Writers in Schools programme. She is prepared to discuss ideas, imagination, and stories. She would prefer to limit class sizes to around 25 students, but can cope with more. She is able to travel only within Wellington and the Wairarapa.
