Rachael King
@rachaelking70.bsky.social
Writer of novels & other stuff from NZ. MG novel The Grimmelings (“Horse girl folk horror”) out now in Aus, NZ & the UK, coming to the US Oct 2025. Secrets at Red Rocks TV adaptation out 9 March NZ & US. https://www.rachael-king.com Band Pic: J Ganley
This year has been so long I put the wrong date on it, but the third Violet is finished and off to my editor. Coming mid-2026.
December 1, 2025 at 7:57 PM
This year has been so long I put the wrong date on it, but the third Violet is finished and off to my editor. Coming mid-2026.
I’m just finishing off the third in the Violet and the Velvets series and it has inadvertently become an anti-AI manifesto that I hope will sow some seeds of distrust in children who are future adults (and encourage them to call shit out).
November 30, 2025 at 6:13 AM
I’m just finishing off the third in the Violet and the Velvets series and it has inadvertently become an anti-AI manifesto that I hope will sow some seeds of distrust in children who are future adults (and encourage them to call shit out).
If you’re in Ōtautahi right now, I hope you’re outside
November 19, 2025 at 7:48 AM
If you’re in Ōtautahi right now, I hope you’re outside
Love it when family members are national pub quiz questions! @jonathanking.bsky.social
November 11, 2025 at 8:32 AM
Love it when family members are national pub quiz questions! @jonathanking.bsky.social
My novel started its second life in North America! I couldn’t be there obviously but someone spotted it on release day face out in Barnes & Noble on Broadway so that made me smile. Also, I played haunted house sounds and scared unsuspecting children tonight.
October 31, 2025 at 11:39 AM
My novel started its second life in North America! I couldn’t be there obviously but someone spotted it on release day face out in Barnes & Noble on Broadway so that made me smile. Also, I played haunted house sounds and scared unsuspecting children tonight.
Oh I love the sound of this! I also write about girls in bands for middlegrade. There’s a lot to critique in the music industry and doing through kids solving mysteries is a joy.
October 30, 2025 at 12:24 AM
Oh I love the sound of this! I also write about girls in bands for middlegrade. There’s a lot to critique in the music industry and doing through kids solving mysteries is a joy.
It’s publication day in Nth America for The Grimmelings, my middlegrade ‘horse girl folk horror’ which blends Scottish folklore with an unsettling New Zealand landscape, about a girl and a vengeful kelpie. Out in HB *and* PB! www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Gr... #spookymg #kidlit #middlegrade
October 28, 2025 at 1:20 PM
It’s publication day in Nth America for The Grimmelings, my middlegrade ‘horse girl folk horror’ which blends Scottish folklore with an unsettling New Zealand landscape, about a girl and a vengeful kelpie. Out in HB *and* PB! www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Gr... #spookymg #kidlit #middlegrade
Has anyone asked these guys if they can contribute to the economy to pay for a few things?
October 22, 2025 at 11:48 PM
Has anyone asked these guys if they can contribute to the economy to pay for a few things?
Congratulations to Libertine Pictures & David Stubbs & all the folk nominated in the NZ Screen Awards for Secrets at Red Rocks! If you haven’t watched it yet, please do — It captures the spirit of my novel and the wild south coast of Wellington beautifully. Well deserved all round.
October 19, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Congratulations to Libertine Pictures & David Stubbs & all the folk nominated in the NZ Screen Awards for Secrets at Red Rocks! If you haven’t watched it yet, please do — It captures the spirit of my novel and the wild south coast of Wellington beautifully. Well deserved all round.
Is there anything nicer than first proofs? (Coming May 2026)
October 7, 2025 at 2:26 AM
Is there anything nicer than first proofs? (Coming May 2026)
“I feel that the only possible limitation in writing in this sphere is the necessity to write within the framework of the reader’s understanding, but as this is as wide [Alan Garner] or narrow [Enid Blyton] as the writer cares to make it, it is scarcely to be thought of as limiting.”
October 4, 2025 at 2:59 AM
“I feel that the only possible limitation in writing in this sphere is the necessity to write within the framework of the reader’s understanding, but as this is as wide [Alan Garner] or narrow [Enid Blyton] as the writer cares to make it, it is scarcely to be thought of as limiting.”
Dipping back into this for my sanity. From 1975. A book of extremely intelligent essays. KM Peyton’s one is titled ‘On Not Writing a Proper Book’ — brilliant. 1/2
October 4, 2025 at 2:59 AM
Dipping back into this for my sanity. From 1975. A book of extremely intelligent essays. KM Peyton’s one is titled ‘On Not Writing a Proper Book’ — brilliant. 1/2
I had the pleasure of interviewing the wonderful Jessica Townsend (Nevermoor) at the Melbourne Writers Festival earlier this year. Now you can listen to it as a podcast! It was a fast-paced, joyous conversation about creativity and process and world-building. #mglit #kidlit omny.fm/shows/melbou...
October 3, 2025 at 7:49 AM
I had the pleasure of interviewing the wonderful Jessica Townsend (Nevermoor) at the Melbourne Writers Festival earlier this year. Now you can listen to it as a podcast! It was a fast-paced, joyous conversation about creativity and process and world-building. #mglit #kidlit omny.fm/shows/melbou...
I saw this video about Ireland’s artist basic income and did some of my own calculation. Not that I think art should have to return a profit in order to be valued, but if this is the language the powers that be understand, then it still stands up. www.instagram.com/reel/DPDkX8f...
October 1, 2025 at 9:42 PM
I saw this video about Ireland’s artist basic income and did some of my own calculation. Not that I think art should have to return a profit in order to be valued, but if this is the language the powers that be understand, then it still stands up. www.instagram.com/reel/DPDkX8f...
Hello North America! My middle grade horse girl folk horror is out in less than a month. Some people have said some very nice things about it which I’m going to start sharing here to see if I can convince you to read it. 🐎 😱 @lainitaylor.bsky.social www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Gr...
September 29, 2025 at 11:09 AM
Hello North America! My middle grade horse girl folk horror is out in less than a month. Some people have said some very nice things about it which I’m going to start sharing here to see if I can convince you to read it. 🐎 😱 @lainitaylor.bsky.social www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Gr...
I have my first review of The Grimmelings from the US and phew it’s not bad! It’s out Oct 28. www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews... #kidlit #middlegrade #spookyMG
August 31, 2025 at 9:54 PM
I have my first review of The Grimmelings from the US and phew it’s not bad! It’s out Oct 28. www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews... #kidlit #middlegrade #spookyMG
Well I have to say it’s launching my new book yesterday, but also I got up the courage to play loud electric guitar and sing the Violet and the Velvets song ‘Angry Ghost’ at the launch. First performance in 30 years!
August 29, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Well I have to say it’s launching my new book yesterday, but also I got up the courage to play loud electric guitar and sing the Violet and the Velvets song ‘Angry Ghost’ at the launch. First performance in 30 years!
If you’re in Christchurch tonight and/or on your way to WORD and would like to see me make a possible dick of myself, come along to my launch at Scorpio!
August 28, 2025 at 4:54 AM
If you’re in Christchurch tonight and/or on your way to WORD and would like to see me make a possible dick of myself, come along to my launch at Scorpio!
Hello! My sixth book, and the second in the Violet and the Velvets series, illustrated by the talented Phoebe Morris, is out today in New Zealand and Australia in all good bookshops! It’s got punk rock, kids and ghosts. Who needs more? @allenandunwinnz.bsky.social #pukapuka #kidlit #middlegrade
August 26, 2025 at 5:15 AM
Hello! My sixth book, and the second in the Violet and the Velvets series, illustrated by the talented Phoebe Morris, is out today in New Zealand and Australia in all good bookshops! It’s got punk rock, kids and ghosts. Who needs more? @allenandunwinnz.bsky.social #pukapuka #kidlit #middlegrade
My new book comes out tomorrow and related musical things are afoot
August 25, 2025 at 5:01 AM
My new book comes out tomorrow and related musical things are afoot
Slowly emerging back into the land of grown-up books by catching up on my @backlisted.bsky.social /Locklisteds and reaching into my bookcase for this in a ‘here’s one I prepared earlier’ manner after hearing @unamccormack.bsky.social @andrewmale.bsky.social and @iammilliam.bsky.social discussing it
August 25, 2025 at 4:57 AM
Slowly emerging back into the land of grown-up books by catching up on my @backlisted.bsky.social /Locklisteds and reaching into my bookcase for this in a ‘here’s one I prepared earlier’ manner after hearing @unamccormack.bsky.social @andrewmale.bsky.social and @iammilliam.bsky.social discussing it
Oh, like how people from Waimakariri using the new motorway to get to town now rat run down St Albans streets (traffic increase of 2.5x on our narrow street)? Doesn’t feel good, does it?
August 12, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Oh, like how people from Waimakariri using the new motorway to get to town now rat run down St Albans streets (traffic increase of 2.5x on our narrow street)? Doesn’t feel good, does it?
In case you need some peace on your timeline
July 29, 2025 at 11:37 AM
In case you need some peace on your timeline
Got my advance copy of my next book! Violet and the Velvets: the Case of the Angry Ghost is out on 26 August with @allenandunwinnz.bsky.social. I’m in love with these super-cool illustrations by Phoebe Morris. Boo! 👻 🎸 🕷️
July 29, 2025 at 5:06 AM
Got my advance copy of my next book! Violet and the Velvets: the Case of the Angry Ghost is out on 26 August with @allenandunwinnz.bsky.social. I’m in love with these super-cool illustrations by Phoebe Morris. Boo! 👻 🎸 🕷️