Wilton, Caren
IN BRIEF
Caren Wilton writes fiction and travel journalism. She has a tertiary background in creative writing, and has worked as a cook, editor, and publications manager. Her writing has appeared in journals and anthologies, and her first collection of short stories, The Heart Sutra, was published in 2003. Kate Murray described the book as 'an emotive, memorable collection of fast-paced stories.’ Caren Wilton participates in the Writers in Schools programme.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Wilton, Caren (1963 -) writes fiction and travel journalism.
Caren Wilton was born in Masterton and moved to Wellington in 1980. She completed a BA in Linguistics at Victoria University of Wellington. She is also a graduate of creative writing programmes at both Victoria University of Wellington and Whitireia Polytechnic. Professionally she has worked as a cook, freelance writer, editor, and publications manager.
Wilton’s stories and poems have appeared in the NZ Listener, Sport, Landfall, Takahe, Printout, and the School Journal. She had a poem anthologised in Mutes & Earthquakes (1997). Her stories have also been broadcast on National Radio.
Caren Wilton’s work has been described as emotionally insightful and often funny. She is a writer who is comfortable with big issues, and writes about sexuality, cultural conflict, loss of love, and the death of a parent.
Wilton’s first collection of short stories, The Heart Sutra, was published in 2003. Kate Camp described the collection as filled with ‘page-turning stories whose characters always ring true. An off-centre look at the numb and confused but occasionally lyrically heart’. In the NZ Listener, Christine Cole Catley described Wilton’s writing as ‘sharply observant, accepting even when she is skewering her characters’. In the Dominion Post Kate Murray writes that the book is an emotive, memorable collection of fast-paced stories.’
In 1999 Wilton was the recipient of a Creative New Zealand Grant, and in 2000 she was runner up in the Vintage Scholarship. Caren Wilton lives in Wellington.
Caren Wilton participated in the 2004 Book Council WOW (Words on Wheels) tour of the deep South.
writers in schools information
Wilton is prepared to discuss her work; the process of writing and creativity. She can bring writing in exercises and will run workshops. Wilton's preferred age group is secondary, but she is willing to negotiate. She's willing to travel for school visits.
KAPAI: Kids' Authors Pictures and Information
General questions
Where do you live?
Wellington - with lots of cabbage trees, flax and huge sea views. I’m really lucky.
What books do you read?
Novels
Do you have a favourite author?
Toni Morrison, Peter Carey, Louise Erdrich, Rohinton Mistry, Colum McCann
How do you think up your ideas?
I don’t find ideas by thinking. If I’m patient, and write every day, and have some quiet time everyday, ideas sneak up on me and take me over.
What is the best thing about being an author?
I love feeling like part of the huge and wonderful tradition of writers – people working away to create these fantastic things, books. I also love how rich it makes life – even the hardest, saddest things can (and often do) feed my writing. And I love having a job where I get to play.
Some questions from Primary School students
What sort of pets do you have?
A calico cat called Nina
What is your favourite colour?
Sea blue
What is your favourite food?
Mango with sticky rice
Do you have a favourite movie?
Morvern Callar
What is the most fun thing about being an author?
Having imaginary worlds to play in.
How do you make books?
By working on them bit by bit, day after day.
Where do you like to go for your holidays?
Castlepoint Beach or South-East Asia
What was the naughtiest thing you ever did at school?
I was a little goody-goody & never did anything naughty!
Some questions from Secondary School students
How did you get started as a writer?
I started writing when I was very small – I was always writing books and illustrating them. I stopped for a while though, and it was a writing course that got me started again.
Who inspired you when you were getting started?
Actually as a writer you have to start again and again. I’m still inspired by authors who write beautiful things, by good filmmakers and by my writer friends.
What advice would you give an aspiring young writer?
Keep at it – don’t give up. When you get rejected, don’t take it personally. Keep on loving writing, and keep on writing. Read lots of good books! And live a life you love – have some adventures, so you’ve got things to write about.
Is it difficult to make a living as a writer in New Zealand?
Yes
What were you like as a teenager?
Shy, funny, rebellious
Is there anything else you would like to tell us about yourself?
I love going travelling, trying unusual foods, and speaking (or trying to speak) other languages. In Cambodia I ate raw turtle eggs and roasted sparrow (at a wedding!) but was too scared to eat the big, black, hairy spiders Cambodians love.
I went to my friend Nara’s wedding – a Cambodian wedding is very different to a New Zealand one. The most amazing thing was that the bride had to change her outfit 16 times! She looked very tired by the end of the day.
One time in Thailand I wanted to tell a Thai lady that her dress was beautiful, but the Thai words for ‘dress’ and ‘tiger’ are almost the same. I think I told her she had a beautiful tiger.
