Anthony Lapwood
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antzlapwood.bsky.social
Anthony Lapwood
@antzlapwood.bsky.social
660 followers 240 following 180 posts
Fiction writer. He / him. Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāi Te Rangi, Ngāti Whakaue, Pākehā. Winner of the Hubert Church Prize for Fiction, for my story collection Home Theatre. Views my own.

www.anthonylapwood.com
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antzlapwood.bsky.social
Anthony Lapwood @antzlapwood.bsky.social · Apr 11
My short story "Catch" – about fish farms and gay neanderthals – is free to read in the latest issue of @takahemagazine.bsky.social 🎣👬

www.takahe.org.nz/catch/

#pukapuka #shortstories
Excerpt: Catch 6 April 2025 | in t113 They have escaped to this region on the recommendation of Josh’s friend, who has family down this way. Josh and his partner, Matt, don’t think they know anyone else who lives or holidays here—not regularly. The whole environment is abnormally clean, the air and the freshwater springs, the bush, the [text cuts off] Excerpt: They have two fish now in the chilly bin and, feeling hungry, decide that’s enough. They can always come back another day, there’s no shortage of time. Even though they caught one fish each, Matt killed them both. Josh had wanted to kill his own, but in the end, with the awl in his hand, he had been unable. He’d known that if he tried, he would hesitate and falter, and it would be bad—worse than before. Quicker. Quicker. Though he had been right about the top [text cuts off] Excerpt: Perhaps they should have asked an attendant to kill the fish. An attendant mentioned it was an option when showing them the rods. The attendants seem almost eager to do the killing for you. Josh sips his IPA and studies his partner. Do you reckon neanderthals were gay? he says. Cover of takahē issue 113, April 2025. Masthead states: fiction, poetry, art, essays, reviews.
antzlapwood.bsky.social
"Which is essentially what all novelists do," he said. "We go to a party and then tell why it was awful."

From "The Penthouse" by Andrew Holleran.
Salient excerpt from "The Penthouse" by Andrew Holleran: "So tell me about Proust," he said, turning to the novelist, who had promised to give Ashley a reading list. "What's his schtik?" "His schtik?" said the novelist, raising his eyebrows. "In twenty-five words or less," said Ashley. "Well...," said the novelist. "Proust is a man who went to a party—and then went home and wrote a book about what was wrong with it. Which is essentially what all novelists do," he said. "We go to a party and then tell why it was awful."
November 16, 2025 at 11:48 PM
Reposted by Anthony Lapwood
modernletters.bsky.social
You can also apply for courses in Creative Nonfiction, Television and Web Series Scriptwriting, and Long-form Fiction!
November 16, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Reposted by Anthony Lapwood
antzlapwood.bsky.social
Want to explore the art of short story writing in a series of supportive workshops with me?

Apply for CREW 254 Tri 1 intake by 1 Dec @modernletters.bsky.social ✍️

Students consistently rate the course excellent. Or to quote from a recent thank you card: "BEST EVER."

www.wgtn.ac.nz/modernletter...
How and when to apply | Te Pūtahi Tuhi Auaha o Te Ao / International Institute of Modern Letters | Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington
Information for domestic undergraduate students applying for limited entry Creative Writing courses at Victoria University of Wellington.
www.wgtn.ac.nz
November 3, 2025 at 6:50 AM
antzlapwood.bsky.social
A strong list to which I would add: Unsheltered by Clare Moleta and Juice by Tim Winton #pukapuka
November 16, 2025 at 5:57 PM
antzlapwood.bsky.social
One of the wonders of reading, writing and teaching fiction is seeing the truth that the supply of stories is inexhaustible. It's like discovering infinity in what might seem a finite space. There is always another fold in even familiar corners of the universe.
November 7, 2025 at 8:19 PM
antzlapwood.bsky.social
Want to explore the art of short story writing in a series of supportive workshops with me?

Apply for CREW 254 Tri 1 intake by 1 Dec @modernletters.bsky.social ✍️

Students consistently rate the course excellent. Or to quote from a recent thank you card: "BEST EVER."

www.wgtn.ac.nz/modernletter...
How and when to apply | Te Pūtahi Tuhi Auaha o Te Ao / International Institute of Modern Letters | Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington
Information for domestic undergraduate students applying for limited entry Creative Writing courses at Victoria University of Wellington.
www.wgtn.ac.nz
November 3, 2025 at 6:50 AM
Reposted by Anthony Lapwood
modernletters.bsky.social
Been thinking it’s time to write your first book of poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction? Apply for the MA in Creative Writing at the IIML and have the support of a writing community, Deadline 1 November

www.wgtn.ac.nz/modernletter...
Master of Arts in Creative Writing - Te Kohinga Auaha | Te Pūtahi Tuhi Auaha o Te Ao / International Institute of Modern Letters | Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington
Join the Creative Writing programme with a national and international reputation for developing many of New Zealand's best writers.
www.wgtn.ac.nz
October 13, 2025 at 2:10 AM
antzlapwood.bsky.social
What is the last contemporary novel you read that felt truly bold, surprising, daring, new? I am growing a little tired of the smooth, over-determined upmarket fiction you could set your watch to (though sure, I still admire and enjoy the strict craft of it). #aonzbooks #booksky
October 11, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Reposted by Anthony Lapwood
modernletters.bsky.social
Māori writers, it's time to apply for the 2026 Emerging Māori Writer in Residence — a $15,000 stipend, mentorship, and writing space at the IIML could be yours if you apply by 31 October!
www.wgtn.ac.nz/modernletter...
Emerging Māori Writer in Residence | Te Pūtahi Tuhi Auaha o Te Ao / International Institute of Modern Letters | Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington
Apply for the Emerging Māori Writer in Residence—$15,000 stipend, mentorship, and writing space.
www.wgtn.ac.nz
October 3, 2025 at 11:12 PM
Reposted by Anthony Lapwood
modernletters.bsky.social
Writers of Aotearoa, his is your reminder that Turbine | Kapohau 2025 is open for submissions of poetry, fiction and creative nonfiction until 1 November - check out the submission guidelines and send us your work!
Current Issue - TURBINE | KAPOHAU
EDITORIAL Welcome POETRY Jessica ArcusKate AschoffRebecca BallNathaniel CalhounDavid EggletonRebecca HawkesJacksonLilly KelleherBrent KininmontRata Lee 🔈Winshen LiuMargo Montes de Oca 🔈Mikaela Nyman a...
turbinekapohau.org.nz
September 19, 2025 at 2:44 AM
Reposted by Anthony Lapwood
gbbranstetter.bsky.social
September 15, 2025 at 12:01 AM
antzlapwood.bsky.social
This book is a treat, inside and out.
jackremiel.bsky.social Jack Remiel Cottrell @jackremiel.bsky.social · Sep 11
It exists in physical form! THE EMOTION DEALER AND OTHER STORIES is only two months away from launch! Check out how great it looks!
A proof copy of The Emotion Dealer and other stories by Jack Remiel Cottrell sits on a brown table.
September 11, 2025 at 3:59 AM
antzlapwood.bsky.social
I was honoured to be the guest judge for the Mansfield Short Story Competition this year.

What a treat to read these students' work! The next generation of writers are an awesome and talented bunch ✍️😄

#pukapuka #KatherineMansfield

www.katherinemansfield.com/creative-cor...
Mansfield Short Story Competition
www.katherinemansfield.com
September 10, 2025 at 2:37 AM
antzlapwood.bsky.social
Good discussion on structural issues plaguing the local #pukapuka sector and some proposed ways forward.

www.rnz.co.nz/national/pro...
NZ book sector unites to drive growth
For the first time, the New Zealand book sector is on the same page when it comes to how to tackle the biggest challenges facing the industry.
www.rnz.co.nz
August 14, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Reposted by Anthony Lapwood
thwupbooks.bsky.social
Huge news! Today we're launching our biggest sale ever, to celebrate the move to a shiny new website.

✨ Smooth website experience
📚 50% off ALL books from 2022 & earlier
🗓️ For all of August, while stocks last

The sale is live now at www.teherengawakapress.co.nz.
A red and white banner features a graphic of the Te Herenga Waka Press logo (THW) and text saying 'New website sale, 50% off all books published 1949-2022, throughout August, while stocks last.'
July 31, 2025 at 11:45 PM
antzlapwood.bsky.social
Get 50% off my #pukapuka Home Theatre and heaps of other titles in this @thwupbooks.bsky.social sale 📚💚

teherengawakapress.co.nz/products/hom...
Home Theatre
Winner of the Hubert Church Prize for Fiction, 2023 Ockham NZ Book Awards Welcome to the Repertory Apartments—where scenes of tenderness and trouble, music and magic, the uncanny and the macabre play ...
teherengawakapress.co.nz
July 31, 2025 at 11:41 PM
antzlapwood.bsky.social
"How can we create evidence-based policy with no evidence?" #NZpol

www.rnz.co.nz/news/on-the-...
Just as NZ began collecting meaningful data on rainbow communities, census changes threaten their visibility
There are no sources of administrative data that include adequate rainbow demographic markers such as sexual orientation, gender, transgender experience or variations of sex characteristics.
www.rnz.co.nz
July 31, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Reposted by Anthony Lapwood
modernletters.bsky.social
The finalists for the 2025 Pikihuia Awards celebrating first-time and emerging Māori writers in te reo Māori and English have been announced! Nice to see our 2024 Emerging Māori Writer in Residence Shelley Burne-Field popping up in two categories.
mailchi.mp/mlt/newslett...
2025 Pikihuia Awards: FINALIST ANNOUNCEMENT
mailchi.mp
July 30, 2025 at 10:07 PM
antzlapwood.bsky.social
"Ultimately, New Zealand’s AI Strategy document seems set up to suggest the best thing the Government can do regarding AI is nothing at all." #NZpol

newsroom.co.nz/2025/07/29/g...
Govt's AI strategy is all hype and no vision
Opinion from the University of Otago: The long-awaited artificial intelligence plan proposes 'greater use of AI in business', but that’s basically where the goals begin and end, writes Dr Michael Daub...
newsroom.co.nz
July 29, 2025 at 8:37 PM
antzlapwood.bsky.social
Politics is a blood sport: the politicians' sport, the people's blood.
July 29, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Reposted by Anthony Lapwood
modernletters.bsky.social
PANZ is trying to continue the Wihitreia Publishing programme in 2026 and is looking for a space in Wgtn in which to deliver it. They need a space large enough for 20pax seated at tables, Mon - Fri 8.30am - 5pm. If you know of such a space, email modernletters@vuw.ac.nz and we'll pass it on.
July 28, 2025 at 2:30 AM
Reposted by Anthony Lapwood
ired0mi.bsky.social
this Ngaati Porou takataa wa is the lifeblood of so many of our takataapui works from @antzlapwood.bsky.social "Home Theatre" to Ruby Solly's "The Artist" to @tainuitillidienui.bsky.social "Poorhara" and so many more in our community and beyond. I'm so so so glad she is being recognised in this way
thwupbooks.bsky.social Te Herenga Waka University Press @thwupbooks.bsky.social · Jul 20
We're SO proud that our Editor (Māori) Jasmine Sargent was recognised as a publisher trailblazer at the Book Industry Awards last night! 🎉 The judges said Jas stood out in a very strong category: ‘She has carved out an important cultural role, providing a safe harbour, and caring for her authors.'
Jasmine wears a black dress and a big smile, holding her glass trophy and a certificate. There is a red banner behind her saying 'Booksellers: Proudly supporting Aotearoa New Zealand booksellers since 1921.' The announcement of Jasmine's win. White text on a black background says: 'Book industry Awards 2025 Award for Publisher Trailblazer. WINNER, Jasmine Sargent, Te Herenga Waka University Press.' There is a gold ring around Jasmine's name.
July 20, 2025 at 11:00 AM
antzlapwood.bsky.social
Essential viewing. Complex queer history in Aotearoa gets a well rounded look across these concise episodes 🏳️‍🌈📺

#QueerAotearoa #WeveAlwaysBeenHere

www.tvnz.co.nz/shows/queer-...
www.tvnz.co.nz
June 27, 2025 at 10:20 AM
antzlapwood.bsky.social
If I take this comma out again and put it back again and take it out again one more time I might just stop using commas altogether #amediting
June 25, 2025 at 5:45 AM
antzlapwood.bsky.social
For real, we have David Brent as our prime minister #nzpol
June 21, 2025 at 8:20 PM