Kim Kearney, a mum of three daughters, resides in the beautiful Bay of Plenty. Her love for books and language has shaped much of her journey. Her manuscript, The Lost Words, was shortlisted for a Storylines prize and subsequently picked up by Little Moa Books, bringing a long-time dream of writing a book to life. “I’ve always been passionate about te reo Māori, and I’m dedicated to revitalising the language within my family, weaving it into our everyday lives” Kim says. Years spent as a primary school teacher, is where she developed a love for sharing stories with young minds. Now, reading and exploring books with her own children, she finds herself curating an ever-growing collection of picture books. For Kim, writing has become a wonderful outlet for her creativity. She balances out her love for storytelling with a love for travel, being ever curious about new places and ideas.