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Taking the story to the next level

Maurice Gee is one of New Zealand's most distinguished and prolific novelists who has written 29 novels and 13 short stories. In 2003 his novel In My Father's Den was made into an internationally acclaimed feature film written and directed by the late Brad McGann. In 2003, Gee was among ten of New Zealand's greatest living artists named as Arts Foundation of New Zealand Icon Artists. Maurice Gee grew up in the Auckland suburb of Henderson, attended Avondale College and University of Auckland (MA in English 1954).

The Book Council of New Zealand describes his style of writing: "Each of Maurice Gee's novels bountifully gives us a rich vision of some region and aspect of New Zealand life, and of human life in general. Each is peopled with a variety of intensely living and unique personalities together with lush images of the natural and social worlds. Taken together his books can overwhelm us with their wealth, density and complexity of life. Yet there is always an awareness of living at the edge of an abyss: one false move and we shall leave this abundance for nothingness".

Maurice has won many New Zealand literary awards, including the Wattie Award, the Montana Award and the New Zealand Fiction Award. He has also won the Children's Book of the Year Award, and the Prime Minister's Award for Literary Achievement. His books have been sold in many countries.

Maurice lives with his wife Margareta in Nelson and has a son and two daughters.