Picton author to mark Mansfield anniversary

Their journeys began more than a century apart, but Picton author and reprinted in 2016, delves into Mansfield’s connection with Picton and the Marlborough Sounds. Between 1889 and 1908, starting at just six months’ old, Mansfield’s visits to the region were frequent.

Julie Kennedy feels a connection with one of New Zealand’s bestknown writers - Katherine Mansfield.

The pair share connections with Wellington’s Days Bay, Picton and the Marlborough Sounds.

And in honour of the 100th anniversary of Mansfield’s death, Julie is set to be a guest author at the Marlborough Book Festival in July.

Julie’s interest in Katherine Mansfield began when she was living in Days Bay, across the road from the home where Katherine spent many holidays.

After moving to Picton herself in 1990, Julie read the book As High as the Hills, The Centennial History of Picton, which piqued her with Marlborough. “It said something about Kath erine Mansfield spending holi days here, more or less, and that she had relatives in Picton, and I didn’t know that,” she says. She began reading The Letters of Katherine Mansfield, finding many references to places in the Marlborough Sounds, including Kenepuru, Pelorus and Picton.

“[It was just] little things that I it began in 2014; this is her first time speaking at the event. she’ll discuss her book Katherine Mansfield in Picton, with Jane Forrest Waghorn.

Her session at the Marlborough Book Festival, which runs from July 21 to 23, is a special session to mark the anniversary of Katherine’s death, and a chance