New Zealand Writers
ORMAN, Lorraine
A writer with a life-long passion for children’s books
ORMAN, Lorraine (1948- ) writes for children.
Lorraine Orman was born in Auckland. She was educated at the University of Auckland, and completed her training as a librarian in Wellington in 1970. A career librarian, Orman worked in a secondary school library and a teachers’ training college library. When she retired she was able, not only to dedicate more time to her writing, but also to volunteer for Storylines: Children’s Literature Foundation of New Zealand.
Orman’s short stories have been published in the School Journal, Landfall and Charlie. Her stories have been broadcast on Radio New Zealand, and anthologised in The Puffin New Zealand Storybook (Puffin, 1991, 1996), 30 Weird and Wonderful New Zealand Stories ((Random House, 2003), and Claws and Jaws: 30 New Zealand Animal Stories (Random House, 2004).
Orman’s first novel for young adults Cross Tides (Longacre) was published in 2004. She had two children’s books, Kev and Borax (Penguin Australia) and Ratso (Penguin) published in 2005.
Orman is author of the Top 100 New Zealand Children’s Books of the 20th Century, which was published in The Inside Story: Year Book 2001 (Children’s Literature Foundation, 2001). She has also served as a judge for the 2004 New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults.
Lorraine Orman lives in Auckland.
(LK)
Updated Information
Crosstides won the Best First Book Award at the New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults 2005.
Orman's children's historical novel A Long Way From Home: The Diary of Lillian Glenmore, Warkworth, 1943, was published in Scholastic NZ's My Story series in 2005.
Furze the Fixer, Kiwi Bite series (2005), was published by Penguin.
Fish Tale, Kiwi Bites series (2006), was published by Puffin Books.
Hideout (Longacre Press, 2007) is a young adult novel that includes drama, Maori mysticism and legends: Things at home have spun out of control. Fifteen year-old Roz knows she has to take charge. She packs up her younger sister and the two of them flee, finding refuge at a friend’s beach house.
But are the girls really out of harm’s way here on this wild and windy coast?
Out of the Deep and Other Stories from New Zealand and the Pacific (2007, published jointly by the Storylines Trust and Reed Publishing ) was co-edited by Lorraine Orman and Tessa Duder.
Writers in Schools
Lorraine Orman participates in the Writers in Schools programme. She is willing to visit schools in the Auckland area. She is happy to work with any age group, and will discuss her own work, what makes a good story, getting ideas for stories, and doing research. She would prefer to talk to no more than two classes at a time. She may be prepared to run workshops, but for small groups only, and by prior consultation.
KAPAI: Kids' Authors' Pictures and Information
Some Qusestions for Lorraine Orman
General
Where do you live?
During the week I live in a rented unit in Auckland. At weekends my husband and I drive up to our house at Omaha Beach, east of Warkworth. I’d like to be at Omaha all the time.
What sorts of books do you like to read?
I read mainly books for children and young adults, and fantasies are my favourites.
Who is your favourite writer?
Probably Garth Nix, but I also like Terry Pratchett, Margaret Mahy, Diana Wynne, Susan Price, Jane Yolen, Geraldine McCaughrean – and dozens more.
How do you think up your ideas?
One small idea is the kernel of a story. It can be inspired by something I heard, or something I read, or something that happened to me. Then I play with the idea to see if I can expand it into a proper story. Some ideas work, some don’t.
What is the best thing about being a writer?
Telling stories, I have loved books and stories all my life, and I’m glad that other people are enjoying my stories now.
Questions from Secondary School Students
How did you get started as a writer?
I wrote a lot of short stories when I was younger. Many of these were published. I joined the NZ Society of Authors; was accepted on their Mentorship Programme (my mentor was Tessa Duder) and Cross Tides was the result.
Who inspired you when you were getting started?
Other beginning writers, and colleagues from Storylines; the Children’s Literature Foundation of NZ
What advice would you give an aspiring writer?
You need as much persistence and determination as talent!
Is it difficult to make a living as a writer in New Zealand?
Yes. I only have time to write because my husband supports me.
What were you like as a teenager?
Shy, nervous, lacking in self-confidence, convinced I was unattractive and dull. That’s why I like writing about teenage girls who are basically strong-minded and have plenty of self-confidence by the end of the story.
Is there anything else you would like to tell us about your life?
I was an only child and I had four parents. My natural parents got divorced and both remarried again, but had no more children. Having the focus of four adults on me was awful. That’s why parents don’t tend to do very well in my stories.
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