Kāitaia author Marie Ireland has just had her latest fantasy fiction novel released and hopes to turn it into a movie.
Ireland released Max MacNeil & The Secrets of The Amulet on November 28, with the book suitable for people aged 9-plus, and so far it has had 21 five-star reviews online with 19 of them from adults.
Ireland was born in New Zealand and raised in the Far North, growing up on a dairy farm.
She was taught by her talented father, who was a carpenter by trade, in farm work and basic carpentry. He died away in June.