Hot pink hoodie, tracksuit pants, slippers at breakfast... and news of winning the First Pages Prize
Pip McKay
1st place, “The Telling Time”
While we were crushed to cancel planned prize events at The American Library in Paris this year, winning the First Pages Prize gave New Zealand writer Pip McKay much to celebrate: US $2,500 in cash awards, partial developmental editing, and a consultation with UK literary agent. As judge Sebastian Faulks reflected, “The setting was new: a sardine canning factory? never been there. I felt the writer knew the characters and there was enough potential in them to go on to make a novel.” Pip’s winning opening begins in a tiny fishing village in 1950s Yugoslavia with secrets and adversity from page one. Find out more about her and her captivating book-club fiction.
Synopsis:
An historical commercial fiction novel of impossible love and soul-destroying secrets that transports the reader from post-war Yugoslavia, to 1950’s New Zealand, and back again.
1958: Gabrijela yearns to escape the confines of bleak post-war Yugoslavia and her tiny fishing community, but never imagines she will be exiled to New Zealand — a new immigrant sent to housekeep for the mysterious and surly Roko, clutching a secret she dare not reveal.
1989: Luisa, Gabrijela's daughter, departs on her own covert quest, determined to unpick the family's past. But not all decisions are equal and amid Yugoslavia's brewing civil unrest, Luisa's journey confronts her with culture shocks and dark encounters of her own.
Pip, congratulations on winning First Pages Prize 2020. What was your inspiration for writing The Telling Time?
My travels in 1989 through the former Yugoslavia informed The Telling Time — this was the nugget, the starting point. I reflected on some decisions we made at that time, youthful decisions, risky decisions, and from there the magic took hold. It helped that Yugoslavia had captured my imagination while travelling and that I’ve always loved immigrant stories about people finding their place. The stories of New Zealand’s Croatian community provided excellent material for weaving into a novel and I relish the stories I was privy to and the connections made while researching for the novel.
How long have you been writing?
I’ve always loved to write: mini-stories as a youngster, diaries in my teens and travel diaries in my twenties. To be honest though, I never had a burning desire to write a novel. The Telling Time was born after taking an introductory course in creative writing six years ago — I had planned to take a travel writing course but when this wasn’t available I opted for a creative writing course, thinking ‘why not?’ When the idea came for a novel it wouldn’t let me go! I got serious in 2017 when accepted into the Masters in Creative Writing at Auckland University and have been working full time on the novel since then.
What were you doing when you heard you'd won?
We were in lockdown. I was delving into a late breakfast unsuitably dressed for such an auspicious moment — hot pink hoodie, tracksuit pants, slippers — breakfast never tasted so good!
To be gifted the luxury to dream again in this strange lockdown world felt surreal, and I’m still there, floating above my hemmed-in space. Thank you to the First Pages Prize team for administering what has been the most exceptional experience. My only disappointment is not being able to meet with you all, and my fellow prize-winners, in Paris this year.
What's your writing process?
I’m not much of a morning person and so I try and get out for some exercise and do any boring house-related jobs first. I treat writing as a job and aim to be sitting at my desk every day by 11.00 am. I have to admit to some very late nights when the inspiration takes hold . . .
What are your next steps for “The Telling Time”?
I decided in the early stages of lockdown to self-publish: life all of a sudden felt fragile and I wanted my parents to see this book in print. The Telling Time just launched this week! I plan to follow up with an e-book launch in October.
Is there anything else we should know about you and your writing?
As a youngster I moved every few years due to my dad’s job in the Bank of New Zealand. Our family yo-yoed between the North and South Islands of New Zealand while inhabiting various small towns. Perhaps this inspired my love of travel? I was in my thirties before I could say I’d lived longer than four years in any one place.
Bio:
Pip McKay's travels through the former Yugoslavia informed The Telling Time, however the connections she forged within the local Croatian community while researching stories of New Zealand's Croatian immigrants, have been inspirational. Pip holds a Masters in Creative Writing from the University of Auckland (2017) and in 2018, was awarded a Creative New Zealand/NZSA Complete Manuscript Assessment award for the manuscript. Pip lives in Auckland, New Zealand. Visit her at her website and on Facebook and Instagram.
