Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Random House New Zealand signs Witi Ihimaera


New Zealand writer Witi Ihimaera will publish a new novel, The Parihaka Woman, under Random House New Zealand’s Vintage imprint, in October.

Announcing the signing, Random House New Zealand publishing director Nicola Legat said, “ We are honoured to be publishing an exciting new novel from Witi Ihimaera. He has been a significant part of New Zealand’s cultural life ever since the publication of the landmark Pounamu Pounamu in 1972 and he remains a force in our literary scene.’

 The Parihaka Woman is Witi Ihimaera’s twelfth novel. Set in 1860, it continues Ihimaera’s engagement at the intersections of fiction, biography, autobiography and history. 

We are thoroughly enjoying working with Witi on his intriguing new novel, ” says Random House New Zealand Fiction Publisher Harriet Allan. “It is a wonderful expression of his inventive, humane and stimulating imagination, his playful extension and mixing of form, not to mention his wicked sense of humour.”

Ihimaera also has a contract with Random House to publish a memoir, provisionally titled Native Son and scheduled for release in 2012/ 2013.


5 comments:

Steve Braunias said...

Set in 1860, it continues Ihimaera’s engagement at the intersections of other people's hard work. “It is a wonderful expression of his wicked sense of plagiarism,”

Keri H said...

Tautoko, Steve B- Ihimaera lost me as a reader with
"The Trowenna Sea." Which I read - and found to be not a good read, even ignoring the plaigerised parts-

o look! The verification word is 'skimpt'-

Bobby said...

I suppose with Geoff Walker leaving Penguin plus all the fuss over the last book we shouldn't really be surprised? But he is going from one large and active publisher to another so the book will be published and promoted well.
Good title, I look forward to it.

Keri H said...

Random Houses just may want to revisit that proposed memoir title - "Native Son" is a very well-known book, published in the USA many years ago by an African-American writer.

Anonymous said...

What about The Trowenna Sea? Shouldn't Random House be asked? Is there a commitment to publishing the revised edition?