Fiona Kidman (b. 1940) began to write seriously when
she
was twenty-two, combining her early writing life with motherhood.
Later, she worked in radio and television, but is now primarily a writer of
fiction. Her novels include A Breed of Women (1979), The Book of Secrets (1987
),
Mandarin Summer (1989) (shortly to be a feature
film), True Stars (1990) (written during tenure of
the Writer's Fellowship) and Ricochet Baby (1996).
Her most recent book is The Best of Fiona Kidman's Short Stories. She has received numerous awards and in 1998 became Dame
Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (DNZM).
