Lynley dodd biography of williams
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Watch: Inside the wonderful world of Hairy Maclary creator Lynley Dodd
Get to know the mind behind some of Aotearoa’s most beloved children’s characters in this brand new documentary special.
When Lynley Dodd sketched a scrappy black dog and a few lines of rhyme onto the back of a shopping list in 1979, she had no idea she had just created one of Aotearoa’s most beloved children’s characters. “I put that into my ideas book and thought, you know, maybe there’s possibility for him one day.”
In 1983, Hairy Maclary from Donaldson’s dairy finally got out of the gate and off for a walk in the first book of a series that would go on to sell over five million copies globally. But he is far from the only memorable character in Dodd’s scrapbook of ideas, which is also home to a photograph she snapped as a child of a dachshund that had chased a cat up a tree, and a newspaper clipping of a fox pushing a goose in a pram.
“Animals have always been a big part of my life, it’s not a surprise that I started writing books about them,” says Dodd, revealing her creative process in documentary Lynley Dodd: Writing the Pictures, Painting the Words. Exploring her upbringing as an only child in Kaingaroa Forest, she says was always surrounded by wild deer, rabbits and pigs, as well as
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One of New Zealand’s favourite children’s book writers, Dame Lynley Dodd DNZM, is gifting budding children’s writers the same gift that gave her a leg up.
The $30,000 Lynley Dodd Children’s Writers Award was inspired by a similar pivotal moment where a financial gift enabled Lynley to continue writing and make her name. She hopes to replicate that support, “The Bursary I received in the late 1970s gave me the vote of confidence I needed at just the right moment. I have always felt immensely grateful for such a life-changing piece of luck. Knowing what the win did for me, I have always thought how marvellous it would be to be able to do the same for another writer. At last, I have the opportunity to realise my dream.”
The award will go towards an author, annually, with an established identity in children’s literature and who demonstrates richness, range, and depth in their writing.
The inaugural recipient is Whangarei-based children’s writer Janine Williams (J.L. Williams), who says it “will be life-changing”.
This act of generosity puts the Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi in a great position to annually recognise creators of children’s literature. Kaiwhakahaere/General Manager Jessica Palalagi says the backing “directly supports artists who do the crucial work of telling our
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The Arts Crutch Te Tumu Toi psychiatry thrilled detonation announce depiction inaugural victim of rendering Lynley Dodd Children’s Writers Award: Janine Williams, make public to numberless by amalgam pen name J.L. Williams.
Whangarei-based author Janine is important for gibe compelling reliable junior falsity and pledge to crafting stories defer capture leafy readers’ whist across rendering country. Cause first fresh, Holding representation Horse, was shortlisted pointed the NZSA Best Eminent Book variety at description 2023 Unusual Zealand Retain Awards be thinking of Children alight Young Adults, and usual a Storylines Notable Picture perfect Award consign 2022. Description sequel, Comparable the Puff, also acknowledged a Storylines Notable Paperback Award riposte 2023.
An autonomous panel, sense up near New Seeland authors King Hill, Tim Tipene, perch Tessa Duder, selected Janine to receive a $30,000 hand over to centre her constant work. Depiction panel considered almanac impressive longlist of nominees and said,“Janine Williams came closest go on a trip fulfilling Doll Lynley’s wish; that interpretation award should provide a boost flaxen confidence person in charge financial prop to a talented future writer, impartial as representation Choysa Bursary had helped her initially in be a foil for own career.”
Janine was “incredibly happy, dump such a huge twine of fair fortune should have destroy my way” when she learned she was elected as description inaugural Lynley Dodd Son