Elizabeth (Libby) Kirkby-McLeod is a New Zealand author whose poetry and writing have appeared in a range of New Zealand journals, online publications, and in the public art installation, In Our Words in downtown Auckland. She also works part-time as a local reporter for Radio New Zealand.
Her first poetry collection Family Instructions Upon Release was published in November 2019 with The Cuba Press. Its first print-run quickly sold out and the collection was praised by reviewers in The New Zealand Herald and Radio New Zealand National.
She has a children’s book World Folk Tales, published in 2021 with Gilt Edge Publishing. She also edited the short story collection, Lit: stories from home, published by OneTree House in 2021, and is the author of the junior fiction series, Eugene’s Island.
Elizabeth is an active member of the NZSA and produces the NZSA Oral History Podcast series.
Elizabeth has a First Class Master of Creative Writing from AUT, where she was a recipient of the Dean’s Award for Excellence in Postgraduate Study.
Elizabeth was long-listed for the 2008 Six Pack 3 authors anthology and her poem ‘Her Warning Signs’ was Highly Commended in the 2018 International Poetry Competition.
Media links
- How I Write, featuring Elizabeth, on stuff.co.nz
- Guest on Words From The Bubble with Rachel Doré on Manawatu People’s Radio
- Discussion of new picture book World Folk Tales – Rhema Media
- Q&A about ‘World Folk Tales‘ – NZ Booklovers
- “Poetry in Lockdown,” Rhema Media
- “Lockdown poetry springs up around Auckland CBD,” Radio New Zealand National
- “Coping with loss through poetry,” Radio New Zealand National
Elizabeth Kirkby-McLeod - Author 