Kirsty Roby and Nikki Perry are a novel pair of sisters, in that they have been writing books together since 2022.
Chatting to Woman’s Day from Nikki’s home in Tauranga, where Kirsty’s visiting from Oratia in West Auckland, Kirsty explains that their popular publishing enterprise all started in lockdown.
“We were reading a lot,” she explains. “One day, we got to talking about how depressing some books were and how there was nothing out there for women our age with romantic happy endings.”
Nikki, 57, chimes in, “So we decided to write something ourselves. Something light and fun, and from there, it just kind of snowballed!”
That first book was called How To Marry Harry. The light rom-com was about a pair of middle-aged sisters who fly to the UK to convince Harry Styles of One Direction fame to marry one of their daughters.
Using elements from their real lives, while also making things up, the sisters had a tonne of fun working on the novel. When it proved to be a big hit with readers, the dynamic siblings were compelled to write more.
They named their latest offering, their sixth novel, Mary And Bright. Their beloved father’s battle with Alzheimer’s inspired it.
“We realise now Dad knew something was up before we did. He covered it because he didn’t want anyone to know,” Nikki says of their fiercely independent father.
A former truck driver who had owned his own freight company, Lance Perry was a loving dad, even though his daughters admit he could be grouchy at times.
“Eventually, it became impossible for him to hide what was happening,” tells Kirsty, 51. “Like if we went on holiday, he’d keeping asking, ‘What time is the flight?’ ‘Where are we going?’ or, ‘What day are we coming back?’ because he couldn’t retain information.
“Then there were a few dings in the car. We instantly knew something was wrong because he was such a good driver.”
Continues Nikki, “It was devastating when doctors diagnosed him because we slowly lost our beloved dad. He was replaced by a baffled, confused old man who didn’t know who we were.”
To cope, the sisters tried to find the funny side.
“Like the time he sat at the wrong table in a restaurant after using the restrooms. Or when he thought he was taking Nikki for a driving lesson long after he could no longer drive,” recall Kirsty. “But it was the time he thought the postman was Santa that sparked the idea for our latest book.”
Set in a retirement village, Mary And Bright is a Christmas story that packs quite an emotional punch. However, the sisters are quick to point out it’s still a rom-com with lots of their trademark laughs.
“Even though there were aspects of Dad’s illness that were awful, the book was pure joy to write. Humour helped us deal with his illness, rather than dwell on the actual sadness,” explains Kirsty. “So Mary And Bright is a light, fun book that we hope will make people laugh and find their Christmas spirit, even if they’re dealing with a loved one who has dementia.”
Reminiscing about their late father, who died in October 2020, aged 77, the pair recall how his health deteriorated rapidly once doctors diagnosed him.
“It was a blessing he passed away so quickly. He’d have found it very undignified if he’d stayed on in that state,” says Nikki. “He also became quite a different person after his diagnosis. He turned into this sweet, little, old man, which was quite surreal, with people saying he was just so lovely.”
Chuckles Kirsty, “And we’d say, ‘Yeah, he is now!’”
Nikki adds, “In spite of being a grump, he was our fun dad too. When he’d come home after working all day, he’d play games with us or we’d help him at work. But he did take life very seriously and sometimes he’d tell us we shouldn’t sit around wasting time reading, which was ironic as Dad really enjoyed reading.”
As for what their father would make of their writing empire, the sisters are honest about that too.
“Even though Dad was a reader, he probably would’ve said it was a load of bloody rubbish! Or he’d want to know if we were making any money. But Mum reckons actually Dad would be really proud.”
For every copy of Mary And Bright sold, Nikki and Kirsty will donate $1 to Alzheimer’s New Zealand. Head to nikkiperryandkirstyroby.com for more info.
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