Originally from the UK, Elizabeth Hegarty's family emigrated to Auckland when she was seven. They have always been a very bookish family, and with an editor for a father Liz could never get away with any misplaced apostrophes! Liz went to university in Auckland, studying French and English literature, and after a few years' overseas travel in Europe, Liz and then-boyfriend Liam returned to New Zealand to settle down and get married. Her daughter Molly was born in 1995.
Liz worked as a business analyst for the past decade or more, in IT and corporate strategy, across banking and retail. In 2006 Liam and Liz decided that they'd served their time in the rat-race, and moved down to a tiny place called Canvastown, at the foot of the Marlborough Sounds. They now live in a gorgeous secluded valley, with a river running behind the house and a 50-minute drive between them and the nearest supermarket. Liz has said that the change has been a wonderful experience, and has given her time to concentrate on writing and painting, although she still does analysis on a semi-freelance basis for several New Zealand retailers.
Selected bibliography:
- Salt River (Scholastic New Zealand 2009).
Awards:
- Storylines Tom Fitzgibbon Award 2008.
