The concept of home is much more than a physical space. Through tracing ancestry, experiencing tragedy, and finding friendship, two Tauranga authors speak to the complexity of finding home. Join author Carol Garden for a compelling conversation with author of Finding Miriama, Donna Goodacre (Tainui), and Charlotte Lobb, author of Hannah & Huia.

Finding Your Way Home is part of our debut programme, Into the Night. Join us for a special night of celebrating local authors, storytellers and artists. Over one evening we will present a series of talks across multiple venues in Tauranga CBD. Venue hop or stay in one place; the choice is yours.

Sponsored by Taylor Brothers Transport

About the Speakers
Following the success of her first novel for young teens, Tauranga author Carol Garden is polishing the final draft of her first adult crime novel. Carol is a former journalist and teacher who likes to explore new places, often by boat. She is currently the president of Tauranga Writers.

Donna Goodacre, who is of Tainui descent, is a retired high school/correctional centre/vocational school English and Foreign Languages teacher. Her career spanned some forty years in New Zealand and Australia. Finding Miriama is her first novel, having started it in 2018, when family members convinced her that her ancestors’ story, if told well, could make an interesting read. Five years of historical research later, coupled with a little poetic licence and imagination, the novel was completed. The sequel, Of Greenstone and Violins, is due out in 2024.

Charlotte Lobb lives and dreams up words from her family home in Welcome Bay, in the Bay of Plenty. Through her writing, Charlotte hopes to keep mental health topics in the open and provide hope for those in need. Hannah & Huia is Charlotte’s debut novel.