<![CDATA[Katie Furze - News & Events]]>Sat, 15 Aug 2026 02:46:33 +1200Weebly<![CDATA[2026 SCBWI Crystal Kite Awards!]]>Mon, 29 Jun 2026 01:16:41 GMThttps://www.katiefurze.com/news-blog/2026-scbwi-crystal-kite-awardsI'm over the moon that PEKAPEKA is a finalist in the 2026 SCBWI Crystal Kite Awards! The Crystal Kite is a peer-given award to recognize great books published in 2025 from fifteen SCBWI regional divisions around the world - it's a huge honour to make it to the final 5 in our region! I'm feeling extremely grateful to everyone who voted for our book. ​
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]]><![CDATA[Celebrating KEKENO!]]>Tue, 12 May 2026 20:42:50 GMThttps://www.katiefurze.com/news-blog/celebrating-kekenoI’m so happy to see our lovely new book make it out into the big wide world (or at least all over Aotearoa)! There was no formal launch event this time, but I had a little celebration for KEKENO at home with my nearest and dearest. 
]]><![CDATA[KEKENO is here!]]>Thu, 30 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMThttps://www.katiefurze.com/news-blog/kekeno-is-herePUBLICATION DAY!!!
KEKENO, Curious Explorer wandered into bookstores today!
I'm so grateful to everyone who helped bring KEKENO to life:
The illustrations by Ned Barraud are gorgeous!
Published by Scholastic New Zealand - huge thanks to the team for all they do.
Design by Vida & Luke Kelly Design - top notch as always.
Thank you to my wonderful critique buddies (you know who you are) and my lovely agent Frances Plumpton.
]]><![CDATA[Cover Reveal!]]>Sun, 15 Feb 2026 23:12:04 GMThttps://www.katiefurze.com/news-blog/cover-reveal8423383

​I'm extremely excited to share the cover of our new nonfiction picture book - how cute is this baby fur seal?!
KEKENO, Curious Explorer is written by me and illustrated by the incredible Ned Barraud. The story follows a New Zealand fur seal pup for the first year of his life, from the rocky shore where he is born, where he learns to swim, dive and catch fish, to leaving home and exploring the world. KEKENO will be wandering into bookstores in early May.
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]]><![CDATA[RURU flies to Denmark!]]>Sun, 16 Nov 2025 20:47:30 GMThttps://www.katiefurze.com/news-blog/ruru-flies-to-denmarkRURU, Night Hunter is now available in a beautiful hardcover edition in Danish language from Bogoo Books, Denmark.
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]]><![CDATA[2025 Notable Book Awards]]>Wed, 05 Nov 2025 21:38:45 GMThttps://www.katiefurze.com/news-blog/2025-notable-book-awardsI’m delighted that PEKAPEKA has been selected for a Notable Book Award by Storylines, the Children's Literature Charitable Trust of New Zealand! There are so many wonderful pukapuka on these lists including AT HOME ON THE FARM by my co-creator Ned Barraud. You can read the full list of notables here.
]]><![CDATA[2025 NZCYA Awards]]>Mon, 18 Aug 2025 00:29:40 GMThttps://www.katiefurze.com/news-blog/2025-nzcya-awardsWow, what an incredible night at the New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults! Thank you to the judges and everyone involved behind the scenes in organising this brilliant event. It was such an honour to be a finalist. 
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]]><![CDATA[RURU is a Crystal Kite Finalist!]]>Wed, 09 Jul 2025 21:12:49 GMThttps://www.katiefurze.com/news-blog/ruru-is-a-crystal-kite-finalistI'm thrilled our book RURU Night Hunter has made it to the final round of the SCBWI Crystal Kite Awards! It is such an honour to be selected by your peers at the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI).
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]]><![CDATA[Publication Day!]]>Mon, 30 Jun 2025 12:00:00 GMThttps://www.katiefurze.com/news-blog/publication-day​PEKAPEKA Secret Forest Bat is zip, zap, zooming into bookstores this week!
I'm so grateful to everyone who helped in bringing PEKAPEKA to life:
The Illustrations by Ned Barraud are AMAZING (some of my favourites below).
Published by Scholastic NZ.
Designed by Vida Kelly.
Thank you also to my wonderful critique buddies (you know who you are) and my agent Frances Plumpton.
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]]><![CDATA[RURU is a NZCYA Finalist!!!]]>Fri, 06 Jun 2025 00:17:26 GMThttps://www.katiefurze.com/news-blog/ruru-is-a-nzcya-finalist
I'm absolutely delighted that our book RURU, Night Hunter is a finalist in the Elsie Locke Award for non-fiction! It is such an honour to be selected at this level and I'm most grateful to the all the people who have helped RURU on its journey so far - thank you to the team at Scholastic, Vida Kelly, Frances Plumpton, my writer friends and critique buddies.
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