Random House New Zealand signs Witi Ihimaera

New Zealand writer Witi Ihimaera will publish a new novel, The Parihaka Woman, under Random House New Zealand’s Vintage imprint, in October.

Announcing the signing, Random House New Zealand publishing director Nicola Legat said, “ We are honoured to be publishing an exciting new novel from Witi Ihimaera. He has been a significant part of New Zealand’s cultural life ever since the publication of the landmark Pounamu Pounamu in 1972 and he remains a force in our literary scene.’

The Parihaka Woman is Witi Ihimaera’s (pictured right) twelfth novel. Set in 1860, it continues Ihimaera’s engagement at the intersections of fiction, biography, autobiography and history.

“We are thoroughly enjoying working with Witi on his intriguing new novel, ” says Random House New Zealand Fiction Publisher Harriet Allan. “It is a wonderful expression of his inventive, humane and stimulating imagination, his playful extension and mixing of form, not to mention his wicked sense of humour.”

Ihimaera also has a contract with Random House to publish a memoir, provisionally titled Native Son and scheduled for release in 2012/ 2013.

Media release supplied by Random House