Strong Reviews Continue For Northland Fiction Writer

Whangarei author Michael Botur’s third short story collection Spitshine received rave reviews when its final edition was launched in late 2016. The book is now available to buy online. 

Michael initially wrote the stories inspired by living hand to mouth as part of ‘Generation Rent’ in South Auckland, and revised the stories after moving to Whangarei in early 2015.

Tākahe literary journal described Michael as “one of the most original story writers of his generation in New Zealand” and said the book contains “fluid, poetic, but contemporary language. Botur expertly orchestrates his plots giving them suspense and real feeling for his characters.”

NZ Book Lovers said Spitshine, “Uses authentic street language and slang to perfectly portray real life.”

“Like the crispy layers of an excellent pastry [the stories] explode in your mouth revealing hidden flavours, and they surprise, as excellent short stories should,” NZ Book Council’s December 2016 review said.

Michael works as a volunteer writer on the Hundertwasser Arts Centre campaign, runs the Writers Up North website and is a columnist and contract writer for various Northland companies and Savvy magazine.  He has been a judge and winner of the Whangarei Libraries Flash Fiction Competition, helps convene poetry readings around Northland and is a member of the NZ Society of Authors Northland branch.

Michael’s background is in literacy tutoring and working as a casual and freelance junior journalist at NZ Herald and Herald on Sunday. 

Michael’s fourth short story collection, Lowlife, as well a novel, Moneyland, will be released in 2017.