Michele Clark McConnochie

23/07/2026

The Story Starts Wrong
Workshop presented by Michele Clark McConnochie
Ages 8-12
25 September, 10-10.50 am
The Arts Centre, Maker Workshop

A high-energy writing session designed for 8-12 year old Tamariki who like to laugh while they create. The workshop kicks off with a terrible opening like and invites participants to work out what went wrong to end up in such a situation. From there, participants take charge, re-writing and fixing the situation - until they are thrown some curve balls! Every few minutes they will be given something new to add to the story. This approach builds confidence and creativity, reminding us that writing doesn't have to be perfect to be exiting.

All attendees will receive a $10 voucher to spend at the Tamariki Book Festival on 26 September!

Book now! Link in comments.

20/07/2026

We're running writing and illustration competitions this year, for ages 5-18! Send us your best work! We can't wait to see all the entries. The winners will be announced on the day of the festival. See link in the comments for all the guidelines and submission information.

17/07/2026

Woah! And I complained about the weight of the books I take to festivals or on school visits!

27/05/2026

I’ve been busy, not writing this time but putting all my years experience of teaching creative writing to good use. Coming soon, Once Upon a Page, an online course that covers everything to help you craft a children’s book. Available now is the companion workbook Once Upon a Workbook, packed full of templates and cheat sheets to guide emerging authors with everything from plotting and characterisation to querying.

Once Upon a Workbook: The Essential Step-by-Step Guide to Writing Children's Stories

25/05/2026

Sometimes I manage to take lovely photos of beautiful clouds that look like snowy mountains from my home; and sometimes I take ones of my finger!!

01/05/2026

I’ve signed up for this amazing initiative - looking forward to working with budding young authors!!

Calling all Canterbury Children’s Authors and Illustrators!

Tamariki Book Festival is launching a new initiative in 2026—Behind the Books.

Behind the Books will facilitate and pay for author and illustrator visits in Canterbury schools—schools get free author visits, and authors get paid—a win, win! So far, we have received funding from Selwyn District Council for this year’s visits, and we are actively pursuing additional funding, so we can provide as many school visits as possible.

School visits will kick off in Term 3, in conjunction with National Book Week, and we will be promoting the programme heavily to Canterbury schools during Term 2. We are currently seeking children’s authors who wish to be part of the Behind the Books programme. Check out the Behind the Books website for more information and registration (link in the comments).

We’re excited by this initiative, and can’t wait to get it rolling!

16/04/2026

These are tucked away in my house until September and - well, maybe I’ll just try one of them to make sure they’re ok!

05/04/2026

05/04/2026

Had a really good time, not just because there was a Pimm’s tent. Highlights were seeing Spitfires, the acrobatics of the Blackhawk, and seeing Biggles McConnochie flying his tiger moth.


23/03/2026

Please look after this bear, and all bears 🧡