Waipa readers have had the chance to delve inside the mind of a novelist recently, as Cambridge musician and author Holly Cramer-Roberts promoted her young adult fantasy series, Harp and the Lyre.
Waipa author Holly Cramer-Roberts chats with Cambridge High School students (from left) Renee Britton, Liam Dobson and Hannah Goodwin at the school library last month. Photo: Steph Bell-Jenkins
Holly, who writes under H C Roberts, was at Cambridge High School’s library last Thursday and the Te Awamutu town library on July 25, kicking off her tour of New Zealand schools and libraries.
Her three cli-fi (climate fiction) novels – Exposed, Extraction and Exchange – are each set over seven days, telling the story of five teenagers navigating the challenges of young adult life in a rapidly changing world.
The trilogy features 14 songs embedded in pages, accessed through QR codes, to add an aural dimension to the reading experience.
Holly, whose stage name is Holly Christina, was born in Auckland and has worked as a guitar tutor since leaving high school. She began writing songs at age 12 and recorded her first album at 15.
Her own story with Cambridge is a romance.
“I visited Cambridge for the first time ever in July 2019, and there was just something about it that made me think I’m going to move here,” she said.
“I was here by December 2019. It’s a bit of a love story with the town and definitely an inspirational backdrop for creating my fantasy world.”
There had always been a Waipā connection: her father, Campbell, is originally from Te Awamutu.
At Cambridge High School library last Thursday, Holly spoke and played her guitar to an audience of about 20 students, many of whom were interested in her writing process.
“It’s good to see how an author does it, and it’s not easy, there’s a whole process to it,” said Alexa Winslade, 13. “I enjoyed seeing how you can incorporate multiple senses within your writing.”
Arts prefect Liam Dobson, who took guitar lessons from Holly as a Cambridge Middle School student several years ago, said he had been inspired to read her books.
“To see someone in Cambridge show this passion and combine her love of writing and playing music – it just shows you can do something you love,” he said.
Holly, whose job working remotely as a private guitar tutor has allowed her the flexibility to embark on her book tour, said she was planning to visit schools and libraries in Auckland, Christchurch, Dunedin, Tauranga and the Waikato.
“I’m just starting small,” she said.
“It’s the whole organic process. This year I thought it was more about exposure, just getting the name of the books out and getting them into all the libraries – that’s been my goal.”
She said two key themes in the trilogy – belonging and identity – were important to her personally.
“Truth is important to me, and morality,” she said.
“I think it’s also about connections, relationships. Hope is a big theme I really wanted to focus on, because hope is something we all need through life, especially in dark times.”
Waipa author Holly Cramer-Roberts. Photo: Steph Bell-Jenkins
