Category: Arts & Culture

Andrew Rumbles unearths a self-published kiwi talent. Author Miriam Saphira’s story is one that inspires. Having worked in prisons she fought for child abuse to be recognised and obliterated from young lives. Her own earliest memory is of abuse of her mother and herself. Her father’s war legacy is a pile of love letters with […]

David Levithan is a young American writer. By day he works for Scholastic in New York publishing other peoples books. For recreation he writes his own. He has written mostly for the youth audience with LGBTI themes.  His books are very readable and adults enjoy them too. He has said he enjoys editing and working […]

Lisa Traill shares her rainbow wrist band experience. ‘What are they all about?’ my colleague asked, nodding at the colourful rainbow of bands around my wrist. 100% written on one side and Tino Pai at the other. “Its part of the ‘I’m an Ally’ campaign that’s about to launch, for straight people to show their support […]

Andrew Rumbles Immerses himself in fantasy. Different genres are enjoyed by different people at different times. Each has its own audience. I personally enjoy fantasy writing, more science fiction than historical, but there is some crossover. What I read while busy can differ markedly from when I have time on my hands.   I also appreciate […]

For every Beyonce, there are eight or nine Solanges. Who? They were acts touted to reach the farthest recesses of pop’s stratosphere, but sadly failed to orbit. When someone appropriates a work that was appropriated beforehand, it rings warnings bells. A+’s first single Enjoy Yourself was a successful slice of dance floor-friendly hip-pop that samples […]

For every Beyonce, there are eight or nine Solanges. Who? They were acts touted to reach the farthest recesses of pop’s stratosphere, but sadly failed to orbit. S Club 7 made their name with their television series’ Miami 7 and L.A 7 – their transition from a band on TV to a band in the […]

For every Beyonce, there are eight or nine Solanges. Who? They were acts touted to reach the farthest recesses of pop’s stratosphere, but sadly failed to orbit. Three number one singles, two going gold and a debut album that went platinum. That’s great, and there is an argument that figures talk. But what started with […]

For every Beyonce, there are eight or nine Solanges. Who? They were acts touted to reach the farthest recesses of pop’s stratosphere, but sadly failed to orbit. Adam has done everything from Coronation St to Shortland St, from politics (with the UK’s National equivilant, the Conservative Party) to pop. As great as he was as […]