Lynn Freeman talks with Becky Manawatu about her acclaimed debut novel Auē in this highlight of 2021's Dunedin Writers & Readers Festival.

Although New Zealand writer Becky Manawatu's first novel Auē received numerous awards, the experience of being a published writer, and a popular one at that, is something she's still coming to terms with.

Becky speaks to Lynn Freeman in front of a Dunedin Writers & Readers Festival audience.

Hear Becky Manawatu in conversation with Lynn Freeman, recorded in May 2021 at the Dunedin Writers & Readers Festival

Becky Manawatu:

I was flying to Tauranga. There was a woman beside me on a plane and she was reading my book. And it was the first time I saw that - someone who was not in my family reading it somewhere random. And I was like, "Oooooh!" My heart was going crazy, and then I was like, "Should I tell her?" (Laughs)

And then I said, "No. Don't tell her now because if she doesn't like the book it's a really long flight."

So I waited. I had my own book to read. But I couldn't concentrate, because I was trying to grab an idea of what her expression was like.

Lynn Freeman:

Make sure she wasn't speed reading?

Becky Manawatu:

Yes, the whole time. I did try and do a sneaky but I didn't. I thought that was rude. So she was reading it, and we went to land, and she put the book down in her lap. And then, I was, like, "I'm going to tell her."

So I whispered, "I wrote that."

That's really what I did! And I had the mask on my face. And then I was, like, "Do you want me to prove it?"

And I did tell her I was having quite a good hair day on that day , because I wasn't on the day we were having the flight.

Yeah, that was really cool. I'd never seen anyone out in the world reading it, and I just couldn't believe that she was right beside me.

Lynn Freeman:

I remember watching the video of you when you won the Ockham Award (for Best New Novel). It was the first time they tried to use Zoom for the ceremony, just as we came out of lockdown. Your whole whanau were around you, and their faces just lit up. You were genuinely astonished, and your family were just so happy for you.

Becky Manawatu:

Yeah, they were. It was actually quite a hilarious scene. If you had seen a minute before that, my Dad was sat in one chair. My husband was actually further away from me. And so they announced it. And my husband leaps out of the chair, and he's like, "Yeah!" Dad's already stood up ready to come over for the big hug, as he should get the first hug. He's my Dad. (Laughs)…

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details