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EMJAY PUBLISHING
Marlene established Emjay Publishing in 1990 and endeavours to produce high quality, low cost books with a New Zealand content.

 
BENNETTS, Marlene J

Marlene J Bennetts is a popular participant in the Book Council's Writers in Schools programme.

BENNETTS, Marlene (1938 - ) is a poet and writer of fiction for adults and children.
Her poetry has appeared in New Zealand and overseas in anthologies including Katherine Mansfield Centennial Issue (1998), Poetry Kanto (1989), Poets for Africa (1986), and The President's Awards for Literary Excellence (1995).
Her awards for poetry include the Delores Boccanera Poetry Prize, awarded by the British literary magazine Dandelion, which writes of her work: "Marlene Bennetts' command of words reminds us of the Greek classics...".

Of Ngati Awa descent, Marlene J Bennetts has had eleven children's books translated into Maori by the University of Waikato between 1992 and 1998. Titles translated include The Feathered Cloak, The Magic Greenstone and Who's Afraid of the Taniwha?

Other childrens titles include Hector to the Rescue (1996)
Two novels for young adults, Wing High Gooftah (1995), and The Aroha Pendant (1999).
A collection of poems for children, Caboodle, with Deborah Macowan (Emjay Publishing, 2005)
Skalaska's New Home (Emjay Publishing, 2005).
Waikaka: A New Home was published by Emjay Publishing in 2006.
No Ordinary Flower Girl which was illustrated by Trish Bowles (Reed, 2006).

A collection of poetry, Beyond the Coast (2001) completes the trilogy that began in 1990 with Return to the Coast and Coastal Cornerstones.

Marlene J Bennetts is a popular participant in the Book Council's Writers in Schools programme: "We felt as if Marlene had always been part of our school. Her warmth, good-humour and interest in our students made for an enjoyable and interesting day."
(KC.)

At the Queen's Birthday Honours 2003. Marlene Bennetts was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (M.N.Z.M) in recognition of her services to literature.

Writers in Schools.
Marlene Bennetts is available to visit 5-16 year olds in the Christchurch area as part of the Writers in Schools programme. She is happy to discuss poetry, children's interests, New Zealand environment and endangered species, and New Zealand history. She would prefer to speak to groups of 35 students.

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