Writing Your Heart Out with Deborah Shepard
The Art and Craft of Memoir
The Michael King Writers’ Centre is delighted to announce two great events with author, film and art historian, and life
writing mentor Deborah Shepard.
On Wednesday February 12, Deborah will speak at the Takapuna Library about “the delicious and nourishing practice of
writing stories from the heart.”
Her talk will include readings from her own Pain Journal and a book she has in development Writing Your Heart Out: The Art and Craft of Memoir.
The talk will launch a new series of master classes in memoir, which will be held over eight weeks at the Michael King
Writers’ Centre, starting on Wednesday March 19.
“Memoir is the best place to discover your writing talent because these are your stories of your life and you know them
best,” she says.
The master classes will cover all aspects of life writing, from the history of memoir, the creative process, unlocking
the memories, ethical issues, advice about going public and a writer’s toolkit, with writing exercises at each session.
They are designed for people who have had some writing experience.
Deborah Shepard Writing Your Heart Out
Takapuna Library, The Strand, Takapuna
Wednesday February 12, 6 pm for light refreshments,6.30 pm author talk
Entry $5 ($2 for the Friends of the Takapuna Library and Friends of the Michael King Writers’ Centre)
Bookings recommended, phone (09) 486 8469
Memoir master classes
Michael King Writers’ Centre, Takarunga Mt Victoria, Devonport
Each Wednesday for eight weeks from March 19 to May 7, 6 pm to 8.30 pm.
Cost $280 incl GST; limited entry; details here.
E: manager@writerscentre.org.nz or phone 09 445 8451
About Deborah Shepard
Deborah is a renowned teacher of life writing. She held the Autumn Residency at the Michael King Writers’ Centre in
2013, when she worked on Writing Your Heart Out.
She taught memoir through the Centre for Continuing Education at The University of Auckland for eight years. She is a
life writing mentor for the New Zealand Society of Author's Mentorship programme and is the consultant biographer for
Mercy Hospice, where she facilitates training workshops on the art of recording the stories of people who are terminally
ill. She runs a popular forum on her website www.deborahshepardbooks.com where life writers post their stories.
In 2010 she was author/mentor on the First Chapters writing programme in Manukau and Papakura, South Auckland, where she
mentored 30 new writers and edited eleven of their life stories for the publication Translucence: Life Writing from Manukau and Papakura.
Her books include Reframing Women: A History of New Zealand Film (Harper Collins, 2000), Between the Lives: Partners in Art (Auckland University Press, 2005) and Her Life's Work (Auckland University Press, 2009).