Released on 8 September 2025
Joy, Full & Fearless is an hour-long documentary following Storylines’ Patron Joy Cowley’s recollections of trauma and triumph from an astonishing life as one of Aotearoa New Zealand’s most prolific, widely published and much-celebrated authors of fiction for adults and children.
With rare access into her personal life, director and friend Clare Burgess follows Cowley as she packs up her life and moves into a rest home in Ōtepoti, Dunedin. The author reflects on the poignant moments that have shaped her writing career. Looking back on her early life, she recounts a difficult childhood and the initial struggles she faced with reading. Her journey into children’s literature began by writing stories for her son, putting children in the centre of the narratives and making them the heroes.
Cowley says she doesn’t have adults solving problems for children, children are always in charge.
“In real life, they’re not in charge – in the book, they can do everything.”
Cowley’s adventurous and tenacious spirit has taken her across Aotearoa New Zealand and around the world, leading writing and spiritual workshops. She has also been an enthusiast of motorbikes and Tiger Moth planes, an avid fisher, arts and craft maker, wood turner, mother to four children and grandmother to many.
A resilient and imaginative writer, Cowley drew upon her own life experiences to create enchanting stories for young readers around the world. Executive Producer Pietra Brettkellydescribes the documentary as one that holds immense importance in capturing the extraordinary life of Joy Cowley and providing audiences with a deeply resonant cinematic experience.
“This documentary is a testament to the power of storytelling, the human spirit, and the enduring impact of one individual’s journey.”
Joy, Full & Fearless reveals for the first time the life and creative journey of Joy Cowley, Aotearoa New Zealand’s literary luminary. Produced by Krafty Productions for RNZ, with support from NZ on Air.
