Winner of the ATB | ITK 2023 award for short stories

Dust off your fake ID and strap yourself in for an exhilarating ride with Dulcie, Lorelei, Shaz, Boudicca and the many other fun and fabulous women in Janis Freegard’s world. A celebration of all things female, Wild, Wild Women is the perfect read for all the girls and non-girls in your life (fish-deniers included)! – Jennifer Lane, author of Miracle

I loved Janis Freegard’s compulsive and strange stories. Populated by mermaids, punks, tea leaf readers, vintage car lovers and people figuring out their inner fish, these stories crackle with energy, pathos and wit. The women are fierce and don’t always make the right decisions, but they’ll take you on a wildly enjoyable ride.– Sarah Laing, author of Mansfield and Me: A Graphic Memoir

Full of bittersweet, poignant moments and deep, resounding emotions. It’s astonishing how quickly Freegard makes us care about these characters, and how profoundly we feel for them – Jared Gulian, author of Moon Over Martinborough

Wild, Wild Women

Reviews and Interviews

Writing in the Listener, Rebecca Styles said “The wild, wild women in the collection are full of humour, agency and a lightness of spirit……These are women you won’t regret getting to know.”

In a review on Radio New Zealand, Sonja de Vries said “this book is for readers who are interested in contemporary New Zealand fiction, especially works that focus on women’s perspectives, and it’s a really worthwhile contribution to their reading pile.”

At the launch, Maggie Rainey-Smith said “Overall, this is a most enjoyable romp of a read. I read chronologically but you could start wherever takes your fancy. I could feel the author’s joy and humour laced with compassion brimming out of these stories. They feel real, closely observed vignettes of life.” Maggie’s launch speech can be found here.

You can listen here to an interview with Neil Johnstone on Radio Active.