NEW ZEALAND AUTHORESS

Stratford Evening Post, Volume II, Issue 226, 22 April 1933, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND AUTHORESS

Miss Scanlan in Stratford

NEV/ "PENCARROW" NOVEL ISSUED "Tides^cFYouth" THIRD TO FOLLOW In Stratford on holiday at present is Miss Nolle M. Scanlan, who has made a big name for herself as a novelist. It is not too much to say that Miss Scanlan, in addition to achieving fame for herself, has done a great deal towards placing New Zealand on the literary map for her work is of the type that appe-als to a wide public.

Her three novels, "Primrose Hill," "The Top Step" and "Pencarrow,'' particularly the lastnamed, have met with considerable success and "Pencarrow" has now run into its fifth impression. It was a distinct compliment to the authoress .that "Pencarrow" should have been singled out for special mention by The London Times literary supplement, and complimentary mention at that.

Miss Scanlan told the Stratford Post this morning that her new "Pencarrow" novel "Tides of Youth" has just been published in London and should he in New Zealand about the end of May. This novel, she said, brings the Pencarrow family to the end of the war. Kelly Pencarrow who, in the previous hook, was left loudly objecting to the action of his family in disposing of part of the station carries on in "Tides of Youth'' and Miss Scanlan's numerous readers will be keenly interested to know what happens to him. This book will be followed by another "Pencarrow" novel, bringing the family up to the present day.

"That is one of the reasons why I am out here," said Miss Scanlan. "I want to see how all the young Pencarrows are standing up to this present slump." "I will probably leave for England in June. My holiday will then bo all over, and I shall get down to solid work, and write a great deal of the book on the voyage." This authoress does not employ a secretary, hut writes every line of her work in manuscript and thee, types it out herself.

She does not like talking about what she is going to do until she actually has done it, but she, did admit that she intends to write more stories containing that other famous "Kelly" who was such a delight in "Primrose Hill." Jacket Designed in New Zealand Incidentally Miss Scanlan mentioned that the jacket for "Tides of Youth" has been designed by Mr. Nugent Welch, of Wellington, the finest water-colour artist in New Zealand This is the first time a New Zealand artist has designed the jacket for a novel.

Apart from novel writing, this gifted New Zealander il a very busy woman, acting as bhe does as special correspondent for a number of colonial and Butish journals. She was the only New Zealand journalist present at the first Washington Disarmament Conference and with the exception of Sir Thomas and Lady Wilford, was the only New Zejuander at the second conference held in London to which she was r-| ecially invited. She had the game experience at the Launching of the Canadian Pacific lino." Empress of Britain. The vivid descriptions of these events written by Miss Scanlan will bo remembered by New Zealand readers. Her personality is as delightful as her writing and her powers o£ observation are so groat that one can readily agree with the remt'JK passed by the late Mr. P. C. Freeh, lh;it Miss Scanlan could write a thrilling and interesting story about a --team roller. The First Book It was while she was in Washington at the first Disarmament Conference that she wrote "Mirrors' of Washington," a book which though perhaps not as well known in New Zealand as her other works, was nevertheless well received overseas. Asked whether she contemplated writing film plots, Miss Scanlan said that she had not considered this phase of activity nor had she thought of play writing, though greatly interestPr l in the theatre. Her advice to budding New Zealand writers is to endeavour to exploit the New Zealand market first before trying the wider fields overseas. "There is only one place to learn journalism,' «uc saicl, "and that is via a newspaper office. Young writers should subin.-t efforts to the editors of New Zealand Publications and take what medicine was given them. Even though Ihdr work might not be accepted, the ciUicism offered would bo good for them and would tend to improve their work. She mentioned the difficulty ol breaking into the bettei class of Eughm magazines, whose editors alwi-yrf went tor "big names." Miss Scanlan, who is the cuest ol Mr. and Mrs. J. S. Lyons, will leave for Rotorua on Mondnv, and tatei will go to Australia. She expects to return to New Zealand in a tew weeks and will sail in Jur.3 for «»Sl;»- d - S l lc is a cousin of Mrs. C. Massey, of Stratford.