Deidre Lee

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lee, Deirdre (1931 –) is a children's writer whose stories and poems have appeared in numerous editions of the School Journal since her work first appeared there in 1975.

Ordained as an Anglican priest in 1999, Lee aims to encourage children's understanding of ethics and values, 'without being didactic'.

WRITERS IN SCHOOLS INFORMATION

Deidre Lee is available for school visits as part of the Book Councils Writers in Schools programme.

Kapai: Kids' Authors’ Pictures and Information

Where do you live?

I live at Bay View, a semi-rural community in Hawke’s Bay, near Napier. I used to live on a farm.

What books do you read?

I read all sorts; detective/murder mysteries, old-fashioned romances, people’s life stories, children’s books.

Who is your favourite author?

My favourite author is someone you’ve never heard of!

How do you think up your ideas?

I listen to people telling their stories, then I think about my stories, and sometimes ideas merge into a brand new story.

What is the best thing about being an author?

The best thing is seeing something I have written progress to publication.

Some questions from Primary School students

What sort of pets do you have?

I have one large cat.

What is your colour/food/movie/game?

My favourite colour is yellow.

My favourite food is bread.

My favourite movie is Babe.

My favourite game is going on picnics.

What is the most fun thing about being an author?

The most fun thing is creating something visible from thoughts invisible.

How do you make books?

I wish I knew – I suspect by hard work and sticking at it.

Where do you go for your holidays?

I sometimes go to Hicks Bay for holidays or sometimes we go to a place in New Zealand where we haven’t been before.

What was the naughtiest thing you ever did at school?

I wasn’t naughty at school but one day, after school, instead of going home I went to play at my friend’s house, and my parents didn’t know where I was for two hours. I frightened my mother and she whacked me round the legs with a piece of wood.

Some questions from Secondary School students

How did you get started?

I got started by joining a Writer's Workshop group.

Who inspired you when you were getting started?

An American journalist called Kate Contos inspired me.

What advice would you give an aspiring young writer?

I would say read a great variety of literature, listening to the rhythm of the language as you read, and exploring layers of meaning and feeling.

Is it difficult to make a living writing in New Zealand?

I never have but I was only a hobby writer – journalism may be the best way to start. Us Kiwis can do anything!!

What were you like as a teenager?

I was very pretty, and healthy, and unsophisticated. I enjoyed outdoor physical work and play, was not surrounded by other girls my age and read voraciously anything that came my way. I spent hours on my own play-acting imaginary adventures and told myself bedtime stories. I loved dressing up and acting in front of the long mirror in my mother’s bedroom when I was home on my own. I never felt lonely but I may have been!

Is there anything else you could tell children about yourself?

My early childhood was socially limited, rural, and somewhat uncouth. I remember once I was sent down to the creek bank to pluck all the feathers off a chicken and to prepare it for cooking. My brother killed the chickens by breaking their necks. They were then scalded in hot water to make their feathers come off easily and this was done with their heads still attached.

I plucked the chicken then put my hands inside to pull out the innards. There must have been a pocket of air inside because it gave a big loud squawk! I thought it was still alive and I had been cruel to it so I screamed and threw it into the creek! My brother just laughed at me when I told him.

MEDIA LINKS AND CLIPS

• Deidre Lee featured in the Summer 2000 issue of BRAT: Books for Readers and Teachers