BABICHE MARTENS
Beloved Kiwi author Tessa Duder bristles at the claim that “children don’t read any more”. She fears it’s a self-fulfilling prophecy and a deeply misguided one.
“Of course they read,” she insists.
“We hear all these things about kids’ concentration spans being less and it’s true, I suppose due to social media, but there are still a lot of kids out there who are prepared to read long books and long fiction. “Children just need encouragement – they need role models who read and the opportunity to find books they love. If you talk about books in the family and the parents take their kids to the library, that’s one of the most valuable things they can do. Enthusiastic teachers can be key. There’s still so much joy to be found in reading.”
Children’s literature remains her greatest passion, and at 84. Tessa still finds as much satisfaction in writing as she did when she first began her career in the early 1980s. It’s been nearly 40 years since she cemented her place as one of New Zealand’s most acclaimed children’s and young adult authors. With her beloved Alex novels leaving a lasting mark on generations of Kiwi teens. Much has changed in the world of publishing since then. But one thing remains the same: her unwavering dedication to storytelling.
“As long as I’ve still got my marbles, I’ll keep doing it,” she laughs, welcoming us into her Auckland home.
Writing and remembering
It’s a chilly morning, but sunlight spills into the cosy cottage, where her desk is perfectly positioned to catch the morning light.
“It’s a busy little area,” she admits.
While the four Alex books remain her most iconic work. Tessa – a former competitive swimmer and journalist – has never stopped creating. She’s written 40 books in as many years, a mix of fiction and non-fiction, for both children and adults. Her latest work, a thrilling historical novel called The Sparrow, was published in 2023 and its sequel is due out soon. Now she’s working on a new book set against the icy backdrop of Antarctica. This is a return to a novel she’s been chipping away at for years. Writing is a joy, but it’s also hard work.
“I’m prepared to spend many hours on a single paragraph,” she tells.
“Reading it out loud, refining it and honing it.”
Today Tessa’s talking to us about fellow children’s writer Sheryll Jordan, who died in December 2023, aged 74. On the dining table sits a copy of Sheryll’s new book Descending Fire. A deeply moving memoir that was submitted eight days before her death. Sadly, Sheryll never learned that the manuscript would be published and for that reason. Tessa is speaking about the book on her friend’s behalf.
Sheryll Jordan;s impact and legacy
The Hawera-raised author, who lived in Tauranga, published more than 30 books for children and young adults in her career. And had a huge following both here and around the world. With many literary awards, in 2001, Sheryll was awarded the prestigious Storylines Margaret Mahy Medal. For her contribution to children’s literature, publishing and literacy – the same award Tessa won five years earlier.
“She was prolific and incredibly tenacious,” says Tessa.
She describes Descending Fire as an “extraordinary rollercoaster” of a story, which lifts the lid on Sheryll’s writing process and career, and her life marred by bouts of ill health and despair.
Tessa shares, “You become aware that you’re reading a story of a life which had tremendous highs and tremendous lows.”
The rise of New Zealand Children’s literature
Sheryll and Tessa were both members of New Zealand’s tight-knit children’s writers’ community. Who formed the first true flourishing of the genre in the ’80s and ’90s. While our most famous children’s authors Joy Cowley and Margaret Mahy found success in the ’70s. Tessa explains that their careers were based overseas, with their books published mainly in England, America and Australia, and in European translations. Writing for children and young adults wasn’t typically viewed as a viable full-time profession in New Zealand, she says. And local children’s novels were often “cosy family stories set on farms with children going off in search of Māori artefacts”. Yet that all changed in 1979, with Maurice Gee’s sci-fi classic Under the Mountain published in Aotearoa. Which challenged the style with its bold fantasy theme.
“It was so exciting because it was totally different to what we were used to,” she recalls.
“It really signalled the beginning of a flowering of New Zealand publishing for young readers.”
The power of community
Tessa credits Wendy Harrex – the woman she describes as “the godmother of children’s book publishing”– for taking Kiwi children’s writers seriously. For Oxford University Press, she not only published Under the Mountain. But in 1982, Tessa’s first book Night Race to Kawau, which quickly became a classic, and also children’s author/illustrator Gavin Bishop’s early work.
Tessa recalls a special weekend in 1993 spent at Joy Cowley’s bach in the Marlborough Sounds. Where a group of 32 writers, including Margaret Mahy (who died in 2012), Gavin and Sheryll. Along with other stalwarts like Lynley Dodd, David Hill and William Taylor, converged to share ideas and experiences.
Tessa tells, “It was the most unforgettable weekend surrounded by people who shared this great passion, and started a tradition of writers and illustrators’ hui that continues to this day.”
In the early ’90s, Storylines was set up, a charity whose aim is to “inspire young readers by supporting authors and illustrators”.
Tessa was a trustee for 20 years and remains involved with committee work. She says meeting the audience is one of the most wonderful parts of the job. Seeing how your work reaches people never fails to inspire. Taking part in Storylines’ Story Tours of schools around Aotearoa with other authors is one of her great pleasures.
When it comes to her own writing, Tessa, who raised four daughters and is a proud grandmother of two. Has witnessed huge change in the way she works and publishes books since she first set out. In the ’70s and ’80s, she wrote on a trusty green Olivetti portable typewriter, before moving to an electric model. “That felt very modern!”
Writing transformed
In 1999, she bought her first computer, but it was the advent of the internet that truly changed the way authors could work. She says the ability to conduct research without leaving her desk has been revolutionary, particularly for her foray into historical fiction. The Sparrow is set in Auckland 1840 and the novel she’s working on currently is connected with explorer Robert Scott’s first voyage to the Antarctic in 1901.
“How did we live without the internet?” muses Tessa.
“Well, we went to the library and copied things out of books, and made Xerox copies of pages and wasted a vast amount of paper. Just being able to check little things like the dates of something with the push of a button and 10 seconds later you’ve got the answer – it’s amazing. I just love tools like Mr Google and Papers Past.”
The editing process has also been revolutionised, says Tessa. When she started, changes and alterations would be marked up on hardcopies of manuscripts. Posted to editors sometimes in other parts of the world, then the long wait would begin for new versions to be posted back. “It was laborious and time-consuming.”
Stories that matter
Despite this, occasional mistakes could happen. Tessa recalls one such incident when she learned that one of the later Alex books had been wrongly bound together. Page 48 was followed by page 64!
“The very final proof had not been checked before it went to the printer. And then a year later, the paperback came out with the mistake repeated, unbelievably. The hardback was manually corrected, at some cost I believe, and the paperback had to be shredded and the book reprinted. I won’t name the publisher,” she chuckles.
Tessa says she’ll always be grateful for the incredible privileges that her writing has brought her. She’s travelled the world, met amazing people. And still keeps boxes of letters from the children who’ve been touched by her books.
“I really do believe that storytelling is an intrinsic human need and like every other children’s writer, I simply love sharing that,” she enthuses.
“It’s a great privilege to know that your work reaches children and young people, and can make a difference to their lives.”
