Indie Writers Festival 2026
Don't Miss Out!
Explore new worlds at the Te Manawa Indie Writers Festival during:
We Read Auckland 2026!
Indie Writers Festival 2026 will have over 30 stalls at the book market! Support local and get involved in the newest chapter for independent writers, publishers, and comic artists.
Other things to do this year involve:
A Bookbinding Workshop
Book Lovers Trivia
3 awesome Author Korero panels
and a lineup of authors at from the Chair with excerpts and answers to your burning questions
All of these are free to attend but spaces are limited at the panels and workshop so reserve your spot with a free ticket now!
We also have a tonne of goodies donated by our stallholders to giveaway, to go in the draw, simply RSVP with an event ticket and we'll draw the prizes on the day.
FAQs below share information on parking, tickets, and more.
We also have the full lineup of author stalls and speakers, check it out now!
What's Happening?
- 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
Indie Writers Festival Book Market
Level 1: Purerehua | Foyer | Creative Space Browse the stalls and come find your next favourite read!
- 11:00 am - 1:00 pm
From the Chair
Level 1: Courtyard (Good weather) OR Creative Space (Bad weather) A selection of featured writers will sit down for a chat and read some of their works. Check out the Lineup for the full list of writers!
- 12:30 pm - 1:15 pm
Romance & Feminism - Author Korero (Panel Talk)
Level 2: Hinengaro A look at Feminism and Romance with selected writers!
- 1:30 pm - 2:15 pm
Writing to your audience: Children and Young Adults - Author Korero (Panel Talk)
Level 2: Hinengaro Discussions with selected writers on writing for Children and Young Adult audiences
- 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Memory Card Library x Bookbinding - Workshop
Level 1: Te Ara Tapuwae Creative Space A hands-on creative workshop designed for writers, storytellers, and participants interested in developing ideas through reflective and tactile methods. The workshop combines the Memory Card Library, a reflective cataloguing system for collecting and organising memories, ideas, observations, and story fragments, with an introductory bookbinding activity.
- 2:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Book Lovers Trivia
Level 3: Kōkiri Auditorium A quick-fire 30 minute quiz with prizes from the giveaway box (Donated items from our amazing Indie Writers!) Gather your team now!
- 2:30 pm - 3:15 pm
Working together: Co-writing and Artist Collaboration - Author Korero (Panel Talk)
Level 2: Hinengaro Navigating the collaborative process when co-writing with other authors or artists
Who's Speaking?
From the Chair
11:00am - Kirsty Roby & Nikki Perry 11:10am - Sue Carpenter 11:20am - Subha Books 11:30am - Flaxroots/Bronwyn Elsmore 11:40am - Enni Amanda 11:50am - Jade Du Preez 12:00pm - John Reynolds 12:10pm - Just Viv Press 12:20pm - Linda Shepherd 12:30pm - Mary Brock Jones 12:40pm - S Jayne Bradley 12:50pm - Shan Iyer
Romance & Feminism - Author Korero (Panel Talk)
Hosted by: Hydeawaybookgarden Ivy Cliffwater | K. B. Brookes | Enni Amanda | A Jane Dove
Writing to your audience: Children and Young Adults - Author Korero (Panel Talk)
Hosted by: Hydeawaybookgarden S Jayne Bradley | Sue Carpenter | S M Drought | Lynda Tomalin
Working together: Co-writing and Artist Collaboration - Author Korero (Panel Talk)
Hosted by: Hydeawaybookgarden Ashley Lindsay | Jade Du Preez | Kirsty Roby | Nikki Perry
Memory Card Library x Bookbinding - Workshop
Join John Borras Tan and Fleur Williams for a hands-on creative workshop designed for writers, storytellers, and participants interested in developing ideas through reflective and tactile methods. The workshop combines the Memory Card Library, a reflective cataloguing system for collecting and organising memories, ideas, observations, and story fragments, with an introductory bookbinding activity.
Meet the Authors...
A Jane Dove
Author of slow burn dystopian, cosy fantasy & romantasy books with all the tension and self-discovery.
Aaron Dick
Aaron Dick is a speculative fiction author and teacher based in Auckland. He writes fantasy, science fiction, horror, and folk tales, drawing inspiration from classic genres as well as dark fairy tales.
Angelique Jurd
People-driven stories. Slightly broken men. Stories to leave you breathless, a lump in your throat, and warmth in your heart.
Anna Klein Books
Anna writes romance novels and larp games. She reads, sews, and games.
Flaxroots
Bronwyn Elsmore BA (Hons), MPhil, PhD has written over a wide range of genres, fiction and non-fiction, and is the author of a large number of published works – short stories, articles, and books. She lives in Auckland, New Zealand, where she is a full-time writer, now preferring to write fiction and plays.
Carne Maxwell
Carne is a self-published New Zealand fiction author of crime and mystery novels. She is also a designer and an artist.
Chanteé
Chanteé resides in Auckland, New Zealand with her three cats and husky. When she's not working, she's busy writing comic scripts, random works of fiction, or creating and show running live action role play games under the ShadowHaven banner.
Del Art Stuffs
Del Hahn specializes in Middle Grade comics and graphic novels. Growing up catching bugs and creating their own trading cards cemented their love of curiosity and creation.
E. Hazard / Trinity Wood
Cozy mysteries, romance, café vibes & fictional chaos.
Elisa Erwin
Elisa's debut novel, The Betrayal of Fire, is a contemporary fantasy and the first book in The Children of Promethea series.
Enni Amanda
Ennie writes sweet & sexy romantic comedies set in New Zealand and beyond. She love complex characters, fascinating locations, high tension, and wanderlust-inducing adventure.
Glitterink Press (Elle Ashwell / Lynda Tomalin)
Elle Ashwell: Swoony, small town romance with Kiwi cowboy vibes. Lynda Tomalin: Sweet contemporary romances for teens and young adults.
Grey Kelpie Studio
Jamie Sands is an indie/hybrid Aotearoa enby author, toy maker and agile nerd. Optimistic urban fantasy and romance feat. Queer characters
I. Ribbon
🎲Forever DM & TTRPG geek 😈Writing D&D-coded adventures about a wizard burdened with demon✨
Indie Books NZ
Indie Books showcases new books from the diverse and talented community of independent authors here in New Zealand. Featuring titles across a wide range of genres – from historical fiction to young adult to children’s books, we bring you books with a unique kiwi flavour for every reader.
Indie Comic Creators of Aotearoa
Supporting indie comic creators through education, research, and creating opportunities and access to grow indie comics made by New Zealand comic creators.
J. M. Goldie
Jan writes magical fantasy fiction with elemental magic, magic school vibes, shapeshifting, swords and monsters.
Jade du Preez
Jade du Preez is a fiction writer based in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. Her work often explores questions of identity, belonging, culture, and connection, with a particular interest in the intersections between Aotearoa New Zealand and Japan.
Johanna M Rae
Johanna has written several books within the magical realism spectrum, including paranormal romance, urban fantasy, urban fantasy romance, and fantasy romance. Under her pen name Waverly Wynter, Johanna also writes sweet romance.
John Reynolds
John Reynolds is a New Zealander who lives in Auckland. He is widely travelled and has written musicals, novels, and a how-to book.
Just Viv Press
Just a girl with too many hobbies... Poetry zines, handmade trinkets, collages, and more!
K. B. Brookes
Big feelings. Wild adventure. Spicy romance. Heroes who back her, protect her, follow her lead.
Linda Shepherd
Linda is an author of young adult fantasy set in New Zealand.
Mary Brock Jones
Mary Brock Jones lives in Auckland, New Zealand, but loves nothing more than to escape into the other worlds in her head, to write science fiction and historical romances.
Nikki Perry and Kirsty Roby
Sisters approaching middle age gracelessly. Nikki and Kirsty are best friends, avid readers, writers and cocktail enthusiasts. Old enough to write from experience but young enough to still believe in love, they co-write light, humorous stories that are a welcome escape in this current world climate.
Nikky Lee
Nikky Lee is an award-winning author who grew up as a barefoot 90s kid in Perth, Western Australia on Whadjuk Noongar Country. She now lives in Aotearoa New Zealand with a husband, a dog, and a couch potato cat. In her free time, she writes speculative fiction, often burning the candle at both ends to explore fantastic worlds, mine asteroids, and meet wizards. She's had over thirty stories published in magazines, anthologies and on the radio.
North Shore Writers
The Northshore Writers Group started in 2017 as a small Meetup community that has grown to almost 700 members with over 150 5 star reviews. Since its inception, the group has seen many of its members achieve huge success in their writing careers!
Pat Backley
After an exciting and colourful 69 years Pat Backley turned to her true calling – to become a writer. She hasn’t looked back. Pat has always been fascinated by social history and the lives of ordinary people and believes their stories should be told.
Sasha A Linderson
Ashley and Sarah are bloggers on Linderson Creations, podcasters at Dear Writer, and YA and adult historical fiction writers.
Shan Iyer
Author of Dystopian and The Six Sentinels, Shan Iyer writes deep non-fiction, dark speculative fiction about power, collapse, resistance, and worlds full of broken systems.
Sue Carpenter Books
Sue Carpenter is passionate about bringing books to people of all reading abilities. Refusing to fully grow up, she keeps her imagination young by writing for children and teens. Her goal is to make stories that are easy to dive into—no barriers, no fluff. That’s why her books use simple, clear language, are shorter in length, and are thoughtfully designed to be dyslexia-friendly, ensuring every reader can find joy in a story.
Subha Books
Mother. Poet. Author.
Vicky Adin
If you love stories of strong women, family secrets and lives lived against the odds — these stories are for you. The women history overlooked, set against immigrant families, hidden secrets and enduring love in colonial New Zealand and Victorian Britain — and the descendants who uncover the truth generations later.
Zoe Piper
English by birth and a Kiwi by choice, living in Auckland, New Zealand for over thirty years. Zoe is a bookaholic and devour several books a week. When not escaping into other authors worlds, she can be found staring blankly at her screen, trying to wrangle her own words.
FAQs
- What is an Indie Writer?
An indie author is a writer of fiction, nonfiction, or poetry books who self-publishes their own work and retains and controls their own publishing rights. Unlike authors who self-publish a book for family, friends or community, an indie author’s goal is to make a living from writing and publishing books.
- Where can I park?
A drop off zone is located at the front of Te Manawa, 11 Kohuhu Lane.
We have a rear carpark with limited spaces and 180 minute carparks.
There is metred street parking along Kohuhu Lane and Maki Street.
There is a Wilson's Carpark just a short 5 minute walk by the mall.
There is also public transport with a bus stop across the road from Te Manawa.
- Do I need to bring anything?
This is a Zero Waste market. This means we are encouraging our stallholders to limit packaging and we encourage you to bring along a tote bag for all of the shiny new books you buy!
The festival includes a market for indie writers, publishers, and comic artists. We recommend you bring cash though some stallholders may be set up for EFTPOS or bank transfer. There are ATMs across the road at the mall if needed.
- Can I take photos?
Of course! But if your photos include people ALWAYS gain explicit permission from that person or author. We will have a roaming photographer as well, so if you don't want your photo taken please don't hesitate to say no when someone asks or come and chat with our event staff or library staff.
- Are tickets free?
Tickets are free!
There are three types of tickets and none of them have a cost:
Event RSVP - Help us keep track of numbers (and make sure the coffee cart is stocked with enough caffeine!) This ticket also acts as your entry to the GIVEAWAY PRIZE DRAW
Author Korero Panel Ticket - Spaces are limited so we recommend reserving a spot so you don't miss out on the day!
Workshop Ticket - The workshop requires a ticket as there is some info the facilitator needs from participants prior to the day. Make sure to grab your spot now...
Indie Writers Festival 2025:
Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity
