About

Welcome – I’m glad you’re here. I write stories shaped by real life: the hard bits, the beautiful ones, and the moments that remind us that even in the darkest seasons, there is always a way forward. Whether you’re reading my memoir, exploring my historical fantasy of Atlantis, or following my reflections in The Long Thread on Substack, you’ll find heart, hope, and second chances woven through everything I write.

I’m a New Zealand author of memoir, cosy mystery, and fiction. My work is rooted in honesty and resilience, shaped by the long thread of family, faith, recovery, and the unexpected turns that make us who we are. I believe deeply in the healing power of story – the way it helps us feel seen, supported, and less alone.

My writing journey began years ago during a three‑year adventure living in the United States, where I drafted my first novel, Last Days in Atlantis.

I’ve also written a children’s book, Beatrice, about a young angel‑in‑training who learns about compassion through small acts of kindness. Although I once imagined it as a series, the first book now stands on its own – a story close to my heart.

My memoir, An Addict in the Family, is the most personal work I’ve ever written. It traces my experience supporting my adult son through methamphetamine addiction and navigating the justice and rehabilitation systems. It is a story of heartbreak and courage, written in the hope that others walking similar roads will find comfort, clarity, and companionship.

I’m currently working on Threads of Trust, a cosy mystery set in my hometown – a project filled with warmth, community, and the gentle suspense I’ve always loved.

Before becoming a full‑time writer, I worked as a Town Planner – a profession I loved and once imagined I’d do forever. Life had other plans. Along the way I’ve been a teenage mother, an Avon lady, a volunteer, a widow, a divorcee, a student, a traveller, and now a matriarch to a large, multigenerational family. These experiences shape my writing as much as any formal training ever could.

I share personal reflections every two weeks in my newsletter where I write about memory, meaning, family, recovery, and the small moments that reveal who we are. If you’d like to follow along, you’re warmly invited to subscribe below.

Thank you for being here. I hope you find something in my words that speaks to you, lifts your spirit, or simply reminds you that you’re not alone.

My daughter Phoebe Wilby and I established Delahoyde Publishing Co Ltd to publish our own writing.

We’ve taken the name for the company from the Delahoyde branch of our family. Click on the logo to go to the Delahoyde Publishing site and read about our ancestor, John Thomas Dullahide, son of Edward Delahoyde, our first ancestor from this side of our family to arrive in Australia from Ireland.​