Becoming an author was never what Flaxmere local Parehuia Shepherd envisaged nor thought she would be capable of achieving.
However, having published her first novel; Where Creatures Hide which is aimed at children, and close to releasing her second novel, she is living proof that your circumstances don't dictate your future.
At 16 she had failed english and dropped out of school.
Now, Ms Shepherd is taking part in the Flaxmere 'Community of Learners' event which kicked off this week.
"It was mind blowingly amazing because kids can get easily put off, but they were just all eyes on me and it was everything I could have asked for."