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Hiria Dunning

Issue #16, April 30th 2026

Published 27 days ago • 2 min read

Kia ora folks,

It's been a busy month, and it's only going to get busier for me over the next two and a half months. Read on to find out why...

The actual writing this month

  • I made the final revisions to the final draft of my play Old MacDonald's Farm, just in time for the auditions ... tonight!
  • I submitted nine poems to two different journals and a competition. One of my poems has already been accepted!
  • I got my first short story rejection from NZ publication Landfall, which now means I can officially call myself an NZ writer 😂
  • Revised a novel all month long (I had a block in the first week of the month, but all it took was scrapping the chapter and beginning again! There's always a way around the blockage, even if it takes time to figure it out)

Blackout Poetry event

On April 9th I went to a poetry workshop organised by @blackoutpoetryaotearoa and @ohnopoco. I had so much fun creating my poem and hearing what other people created too. I'm looking forward to more such events in the future!

Here is my poem 'The Coming Quake' (warning, it's a bit raunchy! If you're struggling to read the text here , go over here and read the alt text instead)

Background is a yellowy autumn scene. This is a blackout poem, composed by eliminating words with black pen. Title: The Coming Quake Two different types of illustrated goat stare out at the viewer. Under the first, the caption: Big-horn, thick, curling on these pages. Under the second: Both will use their climbing ability. The poem itself: SIGNS tell us about nature A change being performed we can tell by reading we check we can be sure The amused expressions act as signs all other actions interpreted The smiling faces whole, long, elaborate, harmless they are not smiling. protagonists, part of the game. fighting, wild, exaggerated, muscular, deliberate, melodramatic. Animals stretch their lips over their teeth indulging in a little head starting a bout of mock-wrestling; inviting play-struggles. typical, ancient Less ancient, winking accomplice, teasing, selective accomplice, not victim. the meaning of all which follow will be quite involved.

My friends' books are out now

I mentioned my friends' books in my last newsletter, so I just wanted to remind everyone that they are now for sale!

YA fantasy, The Gods of Atalantis by Emily Klotz: https://books2read.com/u/bP21wz​

Cosmic horror, The Devouring by A.M. Shilling: https://buy.bookfunnel.com/79gh66qxbm​

And also coming out right now in paperback, folk horror Bludeye Beach by Eliwood S. Gheist (which I was talking about way back in December): https://books2read.com/u/4AVPAp​

Holding auditions tonight

I cannot believe I am here already, about to embark on this two-and-a-half month process. Tonight, I'm holding auditions for my play Old MacDonald's Farm, a pantomime for the whole family, which will be staged at The Pumphouse Theatre 7th-12th July 2026.

This is the big return to theatre for me after a hiatus to have my kids. In some ways I wasn't sure I'd ever have the energy to come back, but I was offered the opportunity, and I have to know once and for all whether this is something I really want. So I'm going to throw myself into it, and by July I'll know whether theatre still has my heart or not.

Here's a bit more about the show if you're curious:

Old MacDonald has minded the farm and nearby ngahere for decades, and all that time, the animals of the farm and forest have been at odds. Who really belongs on this whenua? When an interloper shows up and tries to take the farm for himself, mammals and manu have to join forces to save their home. This is a pantomime for the whole whānau, with singing, dancing, slapstick comedy, audience participation and a costume parade!

Old MacDonald had a farm - and we’re going to keep it that way!

Link to buy tickets: https://pumphouse.co.nz/whats-on/show/old-macdonalds-farm/​

On the blog this month

This month I've done a Lore Drop on my award-winning video game Wonderland Nights: White Rabbit's Diary a.k.a. my pandemic project. Read all about it here: https://hiriadunning.com/2026/04/29/lore-drop-8-wonderland-nights/​

What's happening next month?

  • Knuckling down on that rehearsal and production schedule! It's going to be a wild ride.
  • I have a couple of short story submission deadlines I want to try for, but they might have to be put aside for more urgent things, alas!
  • Still just plugging away at revising my novel (yes, the same one since January). One day it'll be done!

Arohanui and all the best for your May,

Claire Hiria

Hiria Dunning

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