Jeanette Goode

I live on the West Coast of the South Island of Aotearoa New Zealand. I was working in the New Zealand film industry when I came here in 2002 to work on a feature film. The filming was delayed and I found myself on the Coast with nothing to do except explore the beaches, the rivers and all the walking tracks. I fell in love with a remarkable, pristine, natural environment.

I decided to give up the fast paced city life and made the move to the Coast. A friend gave me the use of her batch which was built in the rocks right on the edge of the ocean. I shared this home with kororā, little blue penguins, seals and a pair of oyster catchers who nested on a rock outside my front door. It was here in the Crow Bay batch that the story of A Little Blue began. With a lot of help from my community I published A Little Blue in 2020, fifteen years after I wrote the story. Good things take time!

The second book Penguins Don’t Send Postcards was a story that came to me from my friend Dr Julie Leighton who manages the West Coast Wildlife Rescue from her home. I was lucky to spend a summer observing Jack the tawaki. I took lots of photos so when it came time to illustrate the story I had plenty of excellent references.

I am retired, making books is my pleasure.