Michael Gifkins
For many years New
Zealand’s leading literary agent, Michael died yesterday, 29 July, after
suffering from prostate cancer for some years.
As an agent he represented
a number of leading writers, including Lloyd Jones and Greg McGee, and played a
major role in the international success of both the novel and film of Lloyd
Jones’ Booker-shortlisted Mister Pip.
Michael was also a
literary critic, a publishing consultant, an anthologist and a highly esteemed
book editor, whose sympathetic hand and brilliant sense of language influenced
many leading New Zealand authors and books.
He was also a fine
published writer in his own right and his stories were widely published. He was
the author of three published short story collections: After the Revolution, Summer
is the Côte d’Azur and The Amphibians.
He was the Writer in Residence at the University of Auckland in 1983 and was
the Katherine Mansfield Memorial Fellow in Menton, France, in 1985.
Born in Wellington in
1945, Michael was educated at the University of Auckland, where he also later
taught English. He also worked in his earlier years as a commercial fisherman,
waterside worker and stonemason.
Geoff Walker
7 comments:
Oh that is sad news. Michael was indeed a major figure in publishing here, Graham. He was at our table at the NZ Book Awards in 2008 when my novel won Best First Novel and Reader's Choice. He was a wry dinner companion and felt part of my success because he'd been the reader for Penguin who recommended they publish The Blue. I treasure the reader report he wrote which he was happy for me to see - not all readers are. I also remember Geoff Walker telling me how if Michael believed in a book he was acting as agent for he'd arrive at Geoff's desk, manuscript in hand saying something like: 'This is one. You have to publish it.' Who could resist? Sad news indeed to hear of Michael's passing.
I am so sad to hear of Michael's death, he was a good and supportive friend to me and the Earl of Seacliff Art Workshop over many years, unlike many in the literary world he seemed to understand and appreciate instinctively what I was trying to achieve as both a writer and a publisher. My aroha to his family and to Michael a final farewell, haere, haere, haere: Michael O'Leary
That is terribly sad news-He was such a stalwart of the literary World here in New Zealand-just heartbroken.
I'm terribly upset to hear this. Michael fought very hard to get a publishing grant for my Maurice Duggan biography, and it simply wouldn't have been published without his efforts. I'm sure there are many of us who are going to miss his enthusiasm and hard work on behalf of NZ literature.
I'm shocked by this news. In my experience Michael was one of those rare editors who knew your own mind better than you did, and knew how to tell you so. He was a wise and generous advisor. Wystan Curnow.
I'm shocked by this news. In my experience Michael was one of those rare editors who knew your own mind better than you did, and knew how to tell you so. He was a wise and generous advisor. Wystan Curnow.
I was blindsided when I heard about Michael's passing yesterday. I owe him so much, as the man who pushed me to write my first novel and supported me even when he thought I'd gone completely off the rails.
I'll miss him dearly.
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