Author Jenny Pattrick to visit Waverley

Author Jenny Pattrick will be in Waverley on Friday. Photo / Supplied

Acclaimed historical novelist Jenny Pattrick is spending a couple of days in South Taranaki at the weekend.

Pattrick will be reading in the Waverley Library on Friday from 10am.

Libraries and Cultural Services Manager Cath Sheard said she was excited about Jenny coming 'off the touring track' to the district.

"I am delighted Jenny Pattrick is coming to South Taranaki LibraryPlus," she said.

"Despite a huge following, it's fairly rare for Jenny to tour, so this is quite a coup for us; we're delighted our readers will be able to experience Jenny's magic in person."

The Ronald Hugh Morrieson Literary Awards were the catalyst for the introduction late last year, with Children and Young Adults Librarian Pam Jones enquiring whether she was keen to take part in this year's awards as a judge.

Pattrick was unable to do this, but was happy to consider an informal tour.

"I watched a YouTube video of her speaking at Dunedin Libraries about her book Skylark. With its Waitotara connection - I was hooked," Jones said.

Part of Skylark is based in Waitotara, and Landings is based along the banks of the Whanganui River.

Her first novel, The Denniston Rose (2003) and its sequel, Heart of Coal (2004), are two of New Zealand's biggest-selling novels.

Pattrick has written numerous other books and in 2009 received the New Zealand Post Mansfield Prize.