Rachel McAlpine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Rachel McAlpine
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Rachel McAlpine 2014
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| Born | Rachel Phyllis Taylor 24 February 1940 Fairlie, New Zealand |
| Occupation |
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| Alma mater | University of Canterbury, Victoria University of Wellington |
| Spouses |
Grant McAlpine
(m. 1959; div. 1981)Michael Smither
(m. 1988; div. 1992) |
| Children | 4 |
| Relatives | Ada Wells (great-grandmother) |
| Website | |
| writeintolife.com | |
Rachel Phyllis McAlpine (born February 24, 1940) is a talented writer from New Zealand. She writes many different kinds of books, including poems, plays, and novels. She has also written books about how to write, especially for the internet. Rachel McAlpine has written over 30 books!
Contents
Growing Up and School
Rachel McAlpine was born in a place called Fairlie in 1940. Her dad was a vicar, which is a type of church leader. Her mom's grandmother was Ada Wells, a famous New Zealand suffragette. A suffragette was a woman who fought for women's right to vote.
Rachel grew up with her five sisters in small towns in Canterbury, New Zealand. They lived in houses provided by the church. When she was 10, her family moved to Christchurch. There, she went to Christchurch Girls' High School. After high school, she studied at the University of Canterbury. She earned her first degree in 1960.
In 1959, when she was 19, Rachel married an engineer named Grant McAlpine. They had two daughters and two sons. They lived in Geneva for four years before coming back to Masterton, New Zealand. Rachel raised her children there and also taught high school.
She continued her education, earning a Diploma in Education in 1973. Later, in 1977, she completed another degree from Victoria University of Wellington. Her first marriage ended in 1981. She later married artist Michael Smither in 1988, but their marriage ended in 1992.
Becoming a Writer
Rachel McAlpine started writing poetry in 1974. Her first book of poems, Lament for Ariadne, came out in 1975. This book was important for women's writing in New Zealand. By 1993, she had published seven more poetry collections. People often praised her poems for being "exuberant" and having strong messages about women's experiences.
Her first play, The Stationary Sixth Form Poetry Trip, was performed in 1980. She wrote many other plays, including some for radio. In 1982, she took part in a special program. This program allowed writers from Australia and New Zealand to visit each other's countries. She was a visiting writer at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia.
Novels and Stories
Rachel McAlpine's first two novels were The Limits of Green (1985) and Running Away from Home (1987). Both of these books were set in the future. They focused on environmental themes, like protecting our planet. Some people loved her creative ideas and energetic writing. Others had mixed feelings about her style.
Her third novel, Farewell Speech (1990), told a fictional story about suffragettes. These included Kate Sheppard and her own great-grandmother, Ada Wells. This book was later turned into a play in 1993. Her fourth novel, Humming (2005), was set in Golden Bay. It was described as a "quirky read" with humor and serious ideas about connecting with the world.
Writing for the Internet
In 1996, Rachel McAlpine began teaching short courses. These courses were about writing and managing content for websites. She wrote her first book on this topic, Web Word Wizardry, in 1999. An American version was published in 2001.
She continued to work in web writing education. In 2007, she started a company. This company offered online courses to help people and businesses write better for the internet. She also used websites to go along with her own books. For example, she made a website for her novel Humming.
Other Creative Work
Rachel McAlpine is a member of the Capital Choir in Wellington. She also helped edit the poems for Shaky Places. This was a collection of 14 songs based on poems by famous New Zealand poets. The music was created by Felicia Edgecombe. It was first performed in 2015.
In recent years, Rachel McAlpine has written blogs and made podcasts about getting older. In 2020, she published a collection of her poems called How to Be Old. This book celebrated her 80th birthday.
Awards and Special Recognitions
Rachel McAlpine has received several honors and awards for her writing:
- 1982: Australia-New Zealand Writer's Fellowship at Macquarie University
- 1986: Writer in Residence at the University of Canterbury
- 1991: New Zealand Scholarship in Letters
- 1993–1995: Visiting Scholar at Doshisha Women's College of Liberal Arts in Kyoto, Japan
- 2010: Writer in Residence at Château de Lavigny in Switzerland
Selected Books
Here are some of the books Rachel McAlpine has written:
Books About Writing and Other Non-Fiction
- 1980: Song in the Satchel: Poetry in the High School
- 1992: Real Writing
- 1999: Web Word Wizardry (about writing for the internet)
- 2007: Better Business Writing on the Web
Novels
- 1985: The Limits of Green
- 1987: Running Away from Home
- 1990: Farewell Speech
- 2005: Humming
Poetry Collections
- 1975: Lament for Ariadne
- 1977: Stay at the Dinner Party
- 1980: House Poems
- 2020: How to Be Old
Children's Books
- 1990: Maria and Mrs Kominski (short stories)
- 1993: Maria in the Middle
- 1994: Maria and the Lady Next Door
Plays for the Stage
- 1980: The Stationary Sixth Form Poetry Trip
- 1985: Driftwood
- 1988: Peace Offering
- 1990: Power Play
Plays Performed on Radio
- 1981: The Life Fantastic
- 1982: Cats Don't Marry
- 1984: Quite Nice Really
