Marion Day

Author


Posted on 19th Nov, 2017


Serious Writing

It was one of those fresh, stimulating mornings that compelled me to write. I wanted to begin working on a poignant section for my Young Adult novel where my main characters, Pipi and Mum, were fronting the man who’d shot Dad in a tragic deer-hunting accident.

To write the scene, I had to become deeply part of it, so became the distraught hunter as he explained the sequence of events leading up to the accident. I also needed to work out how to describe the sounds of a gutted, sobbing person – the ragged breathing of pain, the cracking voice of grief – and what better way than to make the sounds? Which also taught me where to take the necessary breaks in the dialogue.

So that was what I was busily doing when my partner, Steve, came in the back door for coffee.

I was unaware of his presence so he heard all the snorting, snivelling, snotting and changes of breath as I leant over my keyboard, absorbed in a world that I would never wish to enter in real life.

“Erhem,” I heard behind me.

Shedding my skin, I swung around, my face burning with embarrassment.

“Do I need a straitjacket?” Steve asked.

I tried to think of a reasonable explanation, but all I could blurt out was, “Can’t I have a little bit of space while I’m writing?”

He began to laugh. “So what was that all about?”

I explained, but knew I was now completely out of my story and not likely to get back into it straightaway, so I threw on my gummies to pick some elderflowers and a few small roses to make elderflower cordial – a recipe from my new Dish magazine – instead.

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Contact me

Marion Day
801 Manaroa Road, Clova Bay
RD2
Picton 7282
P: (+64) 027 579 8444
E: become-inspired@MarionDay.nz

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2026

Iya, the story of an energetic puppy who grows up to be her master's hunting dog, was released in March 2026. Carefully crafted for 4-6 year olds, Iya is uniquely and beautifully illustrated by Richard Hoit over Marion’s photographs. Marion was awarded the Rural Women New Zealand Service Simply Given Award at Marlborough Provincial centennial celebrations in March. The citation covered her services as a writer and dedicated judge. In May, Marion looks forward to running three writing workshops at Seddon School.

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Marion is a member of:

  • New Zealand Society of Authors (NZSA)
  • Storylines
  • Rural Women New Zealand
  • NZSA Top of the South
  • Writers of Marlborough
  • Writers in Schools Programme