Photography: Steve Hussey.
There was a time when acclaimed author Rachael King wouldn’t have dreamed of going on a reality TV show.
“In my thirties and forties, I would have been too self-conscious,” she admits.
But at 55, competing on the third season of her favourite show, The Traitors NZ, is just the next unexpected chapter in life – one that’s also filled with a career resurgence, international recognition and children discovering the joy of reading through her books.
“Once I found out I was going on The Traitors, I basically made it my full-time job to prepare… catching up on seasons I hadn’t seen yet and going to the gym every day,” shares Rachael.
After being hospitalised with pneumonia in February 2025 and enduring a long recovery, she was determined to rebuild her fitness for the sometimes physically demanding tasks on the show. The Traitors sees a group of contestants compete in psychological and physical challenges, plus strategic gameplay, to uncover who the Traitors are among them before the other contestants, known as Faithfuls, are eliminated from the game.
In the end, Rachael felt the best strategy was simply to be herself.
“I decided to go in and say, ‘I write kids’ books,’ because it sounds kind of innocuous… Everyone trusts a kids’ writer,” she laughs.
A secret filming operation
Sworn to strict secrecy, only her husband knew the truth of where she was when filming, while her friends, mum and even her two teenaged children believed she was on a writer’s retreat. It worked as a convincing cover story, as during 2025, when the series was filmed, Rachael was also incredibly busy writing three books, all to be released this year.
“Last year was one of the craziest, busiest years I’ve had in a really long time, and I also did The Traitors on top of it.”
At times, partaking in the show, which is set on a South Canterbury estate in a gothic mansion, almost felt “like stepping into the pages” of her young adult novel Song of the Saltings, which will soon be released in the US and UK.
Stepping into her own stories
Rachael still marvels at the fact that her books are being read around the world.
“I feel like I’m having a renaissance in my fifties,” she enthuses.
“My career has rebooted itself, which has been amazing.”
The daughter of renowned historian and author Michael King, at 36, Rachael’s debut adult novel was released and quickly became a bestseller. She went on to publish two more books before taking
12 years off writing.
Taking a long-awaited return to writing
Then, in 2024, Rachael discovered just how much she loved penning children’s and young adults’ novels, and hasn’t looked back.
“I’m riding the wave,” she shares.
“It’s such a precarious occupation and could be taken away at any moment, so I’m absolutely going for it.”
A busy year on the books
In June and September, the last two books in her Violet and the Velvets children’s series will also hit book shelves. It’s been a labour of love and a relief not to currently have deadlines looming over her.
“This year is about trying to get back on track for my health, because I can work too hard and get hyper-focused,” admits Rachael, who will spend two months in the UK soon, relaxing and researching her still-secret next project.
Reflecting on her career success, Rachael’s thoughts turn to her late father, who died in a car accident in 2004. Michael, known for The Penguin History of Aotearoa New Zealand, which has sold more than 300,000 copies.
A father’s legacy
“My dad was 58 when he died,” she reflects.
“Losing him when he was so young, there’s a sense of urgency. I don’t want to waste my time or years, but at the same time, I do now feel more of a sense of calm about where I’ve got to in life. If anything happened to me, I would be okay with what I have achieved.”
In a time when literacy rates are declining, her biggest goal now is to keep writing and inspiring children to read.
“The research around what reading for pleasure does for future outcomes is very solid,” says Rachael, who loves presenting to kids at literary festivals.
Making reading feel like a rock concert
“My goal is to make them feel like they’re at a rock concert and that writers are rock stars.
After signing books, bags and bookmarks for an hour recently at the Auckland Writers Festival, it seems her approach is working.
“It is so rewarding writing for children,” Rachael says.
“I get so much more satisfaction than I did when I wrote for adults. Writing for kids, they just love it and I actually feel like my books are making a difference in people’s lives.”
The Traitors NZ returns Sunday, May 31 at 7.30pm on Three and ThreeNow.
