New Zealand Writers

JOHNSTON, Phyllis

A children's writer with a particular interest in New Zealand history

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JOHNSTON, Phyllis (1935 - ) is a children's writer with a particular interest in New Zealand history. She has been part of the Book Council's Writers in Schools programme for over 18 years, visiting more than 200 schools to share her love of reading and writing.

Her stories have appeared in numerous editions of the School Journal. Her book titles include My Things and the Hidden Light (1984); A Comet in the Sky (1985); and Then There Were Nine ((1989).

Johnston has been involved in literary organisations for many years, serving as President of the Bay of Plenty branch of the Children's Literature Association from 1983 - 1996. She has taught children's writing at Waikato University, and been a judge for competitions of writing by children.

A short story for adults has appeared in The Turning Face (1984), and Johnston won the Manawatu Evening Standard Short Story Competition in 1982.

In 1999 Phyllis Johnston was Writer In Residence of the South Auckland Children's Literature Association, and was awarded a project grant from Creative New Zealand.

(KC.)

Updated Information

The Fugitive Solder: A fifteen year old runs away to war (Polygraphia, 2004) is the story of James, a fifteen-year-old brought up on his parents' farm. He left school at fourteen and is working full-time on the farm in 1917. He joins the army almost by accident. The story relates his experiences in the training camps and finally in the trenches in Belgium.

Dead Dan's Dee (Longacre Press, 2007), is the story of Dee, a soldier's daughter, who discovers a secret about her dead father. It is nominated in the Junior Fiction section for the 2008 New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults.

Writers in Schools

Phyllis is available to visit schools as part of the Writers in Schools programme. She is prepared to discuss her books and the writing process. Her preferred class size is 20 students, and she is happy to run workshops by prior arrangement.