Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Michael Gifkins, a major figure in New Zealand book publishing, has died.

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:

Mary McCallum said...

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.

Unknown said...

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

Marti Friedlander said...

That is terribly sad news-He was such a stalwart of the literary World here in New Zealand-just heartbroken.

Ian Richards said...

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.

wystan curnow said...

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.

wystan curnow said...

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.

Unknown said...

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.