Fiona Farrell

Fiona Farrell, ONZM, is an acclaimed New Zealand author whose distinguished career spans poetry, fiction, and playwriting. Born in 1947, she has published numerous works, including the poetry collections "The Inhabited Initial" and "The Pop-Up Book of Invasions," as well as novels such as "The Skinny Louie Book" and "The Villa at the Edge of the Empire." Her writing often explores themes of place, history, and human resilience, earning her recognition as a significant voice in contemporary New Zealand literature.

Farrell's contributions to literature extend beyond genre boundaries, blending lyrical prose with sharp social commentary. Her novel "Mr. Allbones' Ferrets," a historical fiction piece, was shortlisted for the Montana New Zealand Book Awards, showcasing her ability to weave rich narratives with meticulous research. In 2013, she was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for her services to literature, cementing her legacy as a vital figure in the country's literary landscape.
Standalone Novels
# Title Year
1 The Skinny Louie Book 1992
2 Six Clever Girls Who Became Famous Women 1996
3 The Hopeful Traveller 2002
4 Book Book 2004
5 Mr. Allbones' Ferrets 2009
6 Limestone 2011
7 Decline and Fall on Savage Street 2017
8 The Deck 2023
Short Stories/Novellas
# Title Year
1 The Strange Case of the Disappearing Body 2013
Short Story Collections
# Title Year
1 The Rock Garden 1989
2 Light Readings 2001
Poetry Collections
# Title Year
1 The Inhabited Initial 1999
2 The Pop-up Book of Invasions 2007
3 The Broken Book 2011
4 Nouns, Verbs, Etc. 2021
Non-Fiction Books
# Title Year
1 The Quake Year 2012
2 The Villa at the Edge of the Empire 2015
Fiona Farrell Anthologies
# Title Year
1 The Random Reader: New Zealand Short Stories Volume One 2011