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Debut Christchurch author Carly Waddleton says the idea for the book was triggered by her son’s curiosity about the moa, combined with her desire to encourage him to follow his passions.
“I wanted the book to be about encouraging everyone to give your dreams a try even if you have challenges – like the moa, a bird without wings. In the illustrations you will see that the main character actually has a prosthetic leg. I hope this subtle inclusion illustrates that anyone and everyone can go after what they dream of.”
This is something Carly feels passionate about. Heart issues used to hold her back, but she says her mum was instrumental in showing her she was just as capable as anyone else of giving her dreams a try.
“Publishing this book really epitomises that for me.”
And while the story is a fantastical and joyful romp around the world, Carly worked with a professor from the Canterbury Museum and University of Canterbury to produce a fact page at the back of the book sharing the just-as-extraordinary real-life details of the moa.
Meet the Kiwi author
Carly lives in Christchurch New Zealand with her little people, husband and fish. Originally from Lincoln, United Kingdom, she moved to New Zealand in 2009, and despite earthquakes, fires and the challenges of a pandemic, she still loves to call New Zealand home. She has been twisting words into stories and poetry since she was little, and had her first poem published, an unusual tale of a bee, when she was 8. Since then she has had many poems published in anthologies and pamphlets. Despite writing for almost three decades, it is only in the last 18 months that she has truly given herself permission to spend time honing her craft.
