Different strokes: New Maori writer to launch debut novel 

Set in Wellington, Whiti Hereaka’s new novel, The Graphologist’s Apprentice, explores the art of handwriting, an art that is fast losing its value in a technological world. It’s also a story of how fiction and fantasy can override the realities of a contemporary urban lifestyle.

Whiti and Huia Publishers will be launching The Graphologist’s Apprentice at the Museum of Wellington City and Sea, 1 Jervois Quay, Wellington, on Thursday, 29 July at 6.00pm. 

Whiti will be joined by leading Māori novelist and playwright, Renée, who said, ‘… the book had a grip on me and held on, there was no mercy. I had to finish it. And sometime before midnight, I did. Wonderfully enjoyable, imaginative, moving and funny. Great characters, especially January and Mae – they’ll stay with me for a long time.’

 Whiti is an exciting new Māori writer of Tūwharetoa/Te Arawa descent, and Huia Publishers tell The Bookman they are thrilled to be publishing her first novel.

Whiti’s talent for storytelling is demonstrated through her awards for a number of plays and short film scripts: she won the E Tuhi! Best Screenplay for a Short Film in 2005, and her latest play, Te Kaupoi, recently won the 2010 Adam New Zealand Play Awards Best Play by a Māori playwright award. Whiti holds an MA in creative writing from the International Institute of Modern Letters.

 The Graphologist’s Apprentice will be available at the launch, and the author will be signing copies. The book will be available in bookstores from Friday, 6 August.
As an added treat at the launch, guests will be able to discuss the practice of graphology from one of New Zealand‘s own graphologists, Mark Jones.