Annaleese Jochems is a talented author from New Zealand, who has made a name for herself in the thriller genre. Born in 1994 in Whangarei, Jochems was raised in Northland on a farm situated between Kaikohe and Kawakawa. After completing her university education, she found herself in a job drought, which led her to develop an interest in society's 'surplus population' - those who are not considered necessary. This interest would later inspire her to write her debut novel, Baby, which explores what happens when wealth and privilege are taken away.
Jochems is not only an author but also a bookseller and writer based in Auckland, New Zealand. She completed her MA in Creative Writing in 2016 and won the Adam Foundation Prize in the same year. Her writing career took a significant step forward when she published her first book, Baby, under the banner of Victoria University Press in 2017. The success of her debut novel led to her nomination for the Acorn Fiction Award and winning the Hubert Prize in 2018 at the Ockham NZ Book Awards.
In her novel Baby, Jochems explores the story of a young woman from a wealthy background and what happens when she loses everything. The novel's protagonist is a reflection of Jochems' interest in society's surplus population, providing a thrilling and thought-provoking narrative that has captivated readers and critics alike. Jochems' ability to create compelling characters and engaging stories has established her as a rising star in the New Zealand literary scene. Her work continues to inspire and captivate readers, and she is undoubtedly an author to watch in the thriller genre.