Wendyl Nissen: 2012

Wendyl Nissen is an Auckland journalist who works across newspapers, magazines, television and radio. She is the author of Bitch and Famous (Penguin), a memoir of her time editing women's magazines and wrangling celebrities, published in 2008; Domestic Goddess on a Budget (Penguin), a guide to making your own cleaning and beauty products and saving money, published in May 2009; and has completed her first novel, a romantic thriller titled The Road from Midnight. She is married to writer Paul Little; they have five children, a granddaughter, three cats, one dog and three laying chickens. Wendyl has stayed at the centre three times when she had a looming deadline — in 2009, 2011 and 2012. After her latest visit she undertook to donate cleaning products to the centre. She has her own Green Goddess website and newsletter with an international following, and is a regular speaker at events. Wendyl wrote: "I came to the Michael King Centre a desperate woman. I had spent two years attempting to write my first novel and had escaped to all sorts of places including my old caravan by the beach, a friend's bach on Waiheke, and rather excessively two weeks in Venice. My publisher was losing her patience and I just needed to buckle down and get it finished. I was initially concerned that the centre might be one of those places only serious writers who had studied under Bill Manhire could use, but was immediately encouraged and welcomed by the administrator Karren Beanland. From the first day of my two weeks in the front room I found the peace and quiet, the wonderful views and facilities just what I needed and soon I was bashing out 3500 to 4000 words a day. It has been the most productive writing session I have ever experienced."