The Ngaio Marsh Awards, in association with the Palmerston North City Library, invites booklovers to a thrilling free event featuring four talented local authors.

2023 Ngaios finalist Riley Chance is joined by past Acorn Prize for Fiction shortlistee Gigi Fenster, and fellow 2024 Ngaio Marsh Awards entrants GB Ralph and Bing Turkby, for a criminally good conversation about the art of storytelling, how to craft memorable characters, the importance of setting and weaving in real-life issues, and what drew each of them to mystery and thriller writing.

WHEN: Friday 3 May 2024
WHERE: Central Library, Ground Floor
WHEN: 6pm for a 6.15pm panel

FREE entry, refreshments provided.

GB Ralph is an engineering consultant in Palmerston North and author of cosy mysteries and gay romcoms. The second novel in his Milverton Mysteries series, POISON AT PENSHAW HALL, was an #1 Audible category bestseller, and was nominated for Best Overall Mystery/Thriller in the 2023 Queer Indie Awards. GB Ralph’s books on the Library catalogue.

Bing Turkby is a Manawatū writer, librarian, and musician. He is the author of the ‘Guitar Store Mysteries’ series of cosy crime novels, set in a fictionalized version of Palmerston North. Bing writes stories with a 95% chance of guitars and a 45% chance of cats. Bing Turkby’s books on the Library catalogue.

Gigi Fenster is an award-winning novelist, short story writer, and Massey University academic who has taught law and creative writing. Her latest novel, the psychological thriller A GOOD WINTER, won the 2021 Michael Gifkins Award, and was shortlisted for the Acorn Prize for Fiction at the 2022 Ockham NZ Book Awards. Gigi Fenster’s books on the Library catalogue.

Riley Chance is an author and management consultant who’s been a Senior Lecturer at Massey University. He writes a near-future series of thrillers featuring journalist Grace Marks. His latest thriller THE DEMOCRACY GAME explores the growing threat of alt-right groups. Riley Chance’s books on the Library catalogue.