Wrapping Things

Linda Burgess is the author of three novels, three non-fiction titles and one collection of short stories. Her 2019 collection of essays Someone’s Wife was highly acclaimed, including this praise: ‘A work written with brio, Someone’s Wife is hilarious and devastating, a sliver of New Zealand culture and history told through a single vibrant life and its entanglements with others. Slouching towards Aotearoa, perhaps Burgess is our Didion, albeit less aloof, more gregarious and with better jokes.’ Emma Gattey, Landfall.

Linda was a monthly television reviewer on Radio New Zealand on Afternoons with Jesse Mulligan, and was a television and film reviewer at The Dominion Post for several years. She has won several literary awards and has been a judge for a number of national awards. She lives in Wellington.

Hilary Jean Tapper is an award-winning illustrator based in New Zealand. She creates picture books, and works as a lecturer and researcher. Her awards include the ABIA Children’s Picture Book of the Year, Storylines Noteable Award, and Forevablility Book Award.

Hilary illustrates for picture books with Hachette, Allen & Unwin, Affirm Publishing, and Gecko Press. She uses ink, watercolour and pencil.

Her picture books include Over or Under? (2024, written by Pip Harry), At The Bach (2023, written by Joy Cowley), What To Do (2023, written by Davina Bell), The Day You Were Born (2023, written by Emma Bowd), The Fairies’ Easter Egg Surprise (2023, written by Sarina Dickson),* What To Say*, (2022, written by Davina Bell), A Stick and A Stone (2021, written by Sarina Dickson), and Freddy the Not-Teddy (2021, written by Kristen Schroeder).