Sonya is an award-winning writer, reporter and producer and is the founder and Executive Director of the children’s charity Kiwi Christmas Books. She was a broadcast journalist for more than 20 years, reporting and presenting for shows such as 20/20, Breakfast, One News and Sunday, before completing a Masters in Creative Writing at the University of Auckland.
Her debut novel, Spark Hunter, an adventure-fantasy novel for middle-grade readers, won the NZSA Best First Book Award at the 2022 NZ Book Awards for Children and Young Adults, and a Storylines Notable Book Award.
During her residency Sonya is working on The Secret Green, a sequel to her debut novel Spark Hunter. It is an adventure-fantasy novel for middle-grade readers, set in the real-world wonder of Fiordland National Park, New Zealand. It weaves local history with modern-day action, schoolyard politics with ancient bush lore, and features an eclectic cast of pre-teen children and supernatural forest creatures.
*Photo credit: Natasha Helleur