On Wednesday 6 September 2017 at 5.30 pm at the Tauranga City Library   The Farmyard Idol will be launched.   A collaborative work by local writer Angie Belcher and local artist and llustrator Debbie Tipuna.  There will be readings from the book and opportunities to purchase autographed copies.   Everyone is invited to this wonderful event at the library and guess what? – yes, it’s free.

Angie Belcher is both writer and teacher. Creating a collaboration between the two is what gives greater depth to both her writing and her teaching.
Predominantly known for her travel writing and non-fiction texts, her writing is varied and includes both Young Adult and Junior Fiction novels, commissioned and freelance articles and educational text many of them written to entice reluctant readers into the world of the written word.
Trained as a primary school teacher, Angie has specialised in middle-school teaching; in particular drama and English as a Second Language.
Adventure has been an enormous part of Angie’s life. Many of her texts draw upon high-adrenaline activities. She has completed more than 2000 scuba dives and 100 skydives and has had a long time connection with caving, motorcycling, skiing and many other outdoor pursuits.
Commissioned travel writing has taken Angie to Sri Lanka, Papua New Guinea, much of the Pacific and many parts of Europe. She has had more than 200 travel articles published in national and international magazines including prestigious in-flight magazines such as Silver Kri, Pacific Wave and Sawadee.
Angie has also contributed to various coffee table books such as Guide to the World’s Best Wreck Dives (New Holland) and The World’s Best Dive Sites. She was also commissioned to write the Berlitz Pocket Guide to Fiji 2009.
Some of Angie’s stories have been recorded for radio and The Woven Flax Kete was rewritten as a school play and produced and performed by Pahoia School in New Zealand.
An accomplished public speaker Angie is a member of the New Zealand Book Council Writers in Schools Scheme and has been guest speaker at literary events, service club meetings and children’s writing workshops. She has been a window display during New Zealand Book Month, the prize in a raffle at a literary conference and part of a living art work during an arts festival are counts these among the more bizarre opportunities her writing career has led to.
Angie has spent the last three years living and teaching in the Pacific nation of Vanuatu, and gathering new material for future writing. Angie is available for a wide range of writing and speaking engagements including:
Travel articles, editing, copy writing, educational resources, mentoring and motivating and leading writing workshops.   Content about Angie Belcher from the goodreads website   https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/746224.Angie_Belcherhttps://www.goodreads.com/author/show/746224.Angie_Belcher

Debbie Tipuna

Well known local artist Debbie Tipuna recently won the inaugural Residency Arte Italia Tautoko Maori – Basilicata, out of about 300 applicants nationally. A three month artists residency in Irsina, in Southern Italy to paint and create artwork full-time.

The aim is to provide an artist with the opportunity to work in a fully resourced studio to explore and experiment within a new environment and with a range of various mediums.

As an ex children’s librarian I also asked to visit local schools and take an art/story lesson with the local children, with the assistance of a translator.  I took some of my children’s books.  This section from the Creative Bay of Plenty website.

Link to Debbie’s profile: https://www.thebigidea.nz/profile/debbie-tipuna

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