Harvest Party at Scorpio Books

Inspired by The Food Farm’s practice of celebrating Halloween in late April, the equivalent of late October for the Northern Hemisphere, we’ve put together a line-up of readers to help get you into an autumnal mood. Scorpio’s very own Isabelle Taylor will read from her new fantasy romance novel Accidentally Wedded to a Werewolf(external link) (book one of the Claw Haven series). Kerry Donovan Brown, author of magic realism novel Lamplighter (external link)(2014), will read from their new science fiction fantasy novel. Angela Clifford and Nick Gill of The Food Farm(external link) will share some pearls of wisdom about what happens on the farm at this time of year. Isla Huia, author of Talia(external link) (2023, shortlisted for the Ockham NZ Book Awards), has unfortunately had to cancel her appearance- we were very excited at the prospect of hearing poems from her forthcoming collection due out in July with Dead Bird Books! The good news is Ray Shipley, author of poetry chapbook My Body Is A Horror Film(external link), will be joining the line-up. Ray emcees Late Night Poetry Hour(external link) at Little Andromeda and used to work right here at Scorpio Books! With a chapbook title like that, they were a no-brainer for a special spooky-themed reading event.

All welcome, drinks and nibbles provided. 

Isabelle Taylor(external link) writes sweet, steamy fantasy romance. She works in a bookstore in New Zealand and has a Creative Writing Masters from the International Institute of Modern Letters.

Kerry Donovan Brown(external link) is the author of the novel Lamplighter (2014), which won the prestigious Adam Prize from the International Institute of Modern Letters in 2012. Kerry grew up in Waikuku Beach, North Canterbury. Their work has also appeared in Out Here: An Anthology of Takatāpui and LGBTQIA+ Writers from Aotearoa (2021).

Angela Clifford(external link) has loved using words to communicate thoughts and ideas since she was young. A life growing, cooking and sharing food has provided a fertile ground to nurture her words. As one of New Zealand’s thought leaders in food, farming and the environment she leads Aotearoa’s not for profit food movement Eat New Zealand, their mission is to reconnect people with our land and ocean through food.

Nick Gill(external link) is a farmer who is a cook. He’s spent his life as a viticulturist, amongst the grape vines, with experience and interest in organic and regenerative farming systems. He wrote the recipes for the book. Their home base is The Food Farm, a Permaculture property in North Canterbury. Here, with their three almost adult children, they run workshops, tours and events, helping other people learn how to grow, preserve and make food from scratch. Their first book The Food Farm is a celebration of twenty years of living on and loving this piece of land. The Food Farm was short-listed in NZ BookLovers Awards in 2026.

Ray Shipley(external link) is an Ōtautahi-based writer and performer, best known as the host and organiser of Late Night Poetry Hour – a celebration of poetry, feelings, and staying up past bedtime, which has run monthly at Little Andromeda Theatre since 2020. Ray has won the Christchurch Poetry Slam five times, and their debut poetry chapbook, published by ngā pukapuka pekapeka, was released in November 2025. They have performed three solo comedy shows at the New Zealand International Comedy Festival, including All This Crying Is Making Me Hungry, which was nominated for the Billy T Award in 2019.