15 December 2023
This is pretty exciting – my debut novel ‘The Library of Unfinished Business’ is now available worldwide for pre-order in audio format. Click here to purchase. What do you think of this version of the cover?
27 September 2023
I’m delighted to announce that the World English language audiobook and large print rights for my debut novel The Library of Unfinished Business, published last year in New Zealand, have been acquired by Ulverscroft.
Thank you to my wonderful agent Nadine Rubin Nathan at High Spot Literary for securing this exciting deal on my behalf.
In New Zealand, the novel is still available via all good bookstores and online.
25 January 2023
I’ve joined the team at NZ Booklovers this year as a reviewer! I’m looking forward to reading some great books as they’re released, and telling you all about them. Click here to meet the whole team, and while you’re there, check out all the author interviews, reviews, articles, and competitions.
17 december 2022
I’m happy to announce that my short story ‘Anniversary’ has been Highly Commended in the NZSA Northern Branch short story competition. You can read it here.
Congratulations to all the writers who were placed and who entered.
14 November 2022
I’m delighted to announce my representation by literary agency High Spot Literary.
Thank you so much to my agent Nadine Rubin Nathan, who will work here in Aotearoa New Zealand and internationally to champion my writing and help guide and support me in my author journey.
I’m so excited to work in partnership with her and the High Spot Literary team.
Better get on with finishing that second novel now 
23 October 2022
I’m chuffed to announce one of my short stories has been longlisted in the NZSA Northland Branch Short Story competition 2022. I’m not allowed to tell you its title just yet as the judges are still deliberating. Winners will be announced 17th December, with the place winners published in The Northern Advocate newspaper over summer.
17 October 2022
I’m happy to announce that my short story ‘The Girl Behind the Bar’ was one of five runners-up in the Radio New Zealand Nine to Noon Short Story Competition 2021.
The result has only just been announced, and the stories will be broadcast this week. You can listen to ‘The Girl Behind the Bar’, and read it, here.
15 August 2022
The Auckland Libraries We Read Auckland Programme launches today, including a variety of live and online events. Have a listen to this fantastic conversation between me and fellow Kiwi author Fiona Sussman on the theme “Starting Over”, as it relates to our books Addressed to Greta and The Library of Unfinished Business. Click here.
25 July 2022
Save the Date!
We Read Auckland, 15th – 28th August, 2022, is an exciting programme of over 100 free live and online events celebrating Auckland’s readers and writers and the stories that bring us together.
I’m delighted to share that I’ll be giving an Author Talk at Remuera Library on Thursday 18th August, at 6.30pm. I’ll be chatting about my novel, The Library of Unfinished Business, and I’d love to see you there. It’s free!
I was also delighted to take part in an online discussion with fellow author Fiona Sussman. The conversation centred on the theme Starting Over, and we had the most wonderful 50 minutes discussing this theme as it related to our respective novels, Addressed to Greta and The Library of Unfinished Business. As soon as the conversation is online I’ll post a link here.
21 March 2022
More good news.
The Library of Unfinished Business is Number Three on the Time Out Books NZ Bestseller List! Look at the company I’m in. Humbling. Thank you to everyone who is loving this story.
13 March 2022
Thank you, Aucklanders!
The Library of Unfinished Business came in at Number Two on the Unity Books Auckland bestseller chart for the week ended 11th March.
2 The Library of Unfinished Business by Patricia Bell (Cloud Ink Press, $35)
‘The novel debut by Auckland writer Patricia Bell sounds delightfully like The Good Place: “Maurice, a small-town librarian, dies one Monday morning in a fiery car crash, and finds himself in a very unexpected afterlife, in which naked people host cocktail parties and an angelic mafia calls the shots … As Andy comes closer to discovering a long-hidden secret, Maurice and Kit uncover a terrifying heavenly plot, and for the first time ever Maurice must decide: will he stand and fight for something … or risk losing everything?” Thanks, publisher’s blurb – truly a pleasure.’
10 March 2022
Yessss!
I’m delighted to announce my debut novel is Number Four on New Zealand’s bestseller list (NZ fiction – Adults) for the week ended 5th March. Thank you to everyone who helped make this happen!
New Zealand Bestsellers Chart
Week ending 5 March
NZ Fiction – Adults
- Greta and Valdin, Rebecca K Reilly, Victoria University Press, $35.00
- She’s a Killer, Kirsten McDougall, Victoria University Press, $30.00
- Kurangaituku, Whiti Hereaka, Huia Publishers, $35.00
- The Library of Unfinished Business, Patricia Bell, Cloud Ink Press, $34.99
- The Fish, Lloyd Jones, Penguin, $36.00
- In Amber’s Wake, Christine Leunens, David Bateman, $34.99
- Vā, Lani Wendt Young & Sisilia Eteuati, Dahlia Malaeulu, $35.00
- Loop Tracks, Sue Orr, Victoria University Press, $35.00
- To Italy, With Love, Nicky Pellegrino, Hachette, $34.99
- The Last Guests, J.P. Pomare, Hachette, $34.99
1 March 2022
It’s Launch Day!
My debut novel, The Library of Unfinished Business, releases today. I’m excited to send my baby out into the world.
4 February 2022
I’m excited to invite you all to the online launch of my debut novel, The Library of Unfinished Business, on Tuesday, 1st March, 2022, 7.30 pm New Zealand time. This will be a Facebook Live event, run by my publisher, Cloud Ink Press.
Click here to RSVP and tune in on the night!
1 February 2022
Cover Reveal Day!
Click here to see the cover of my soon-to-be-released debut novel, The Library of Unfinished Business.
27 January 2022
Title Reveal
I’m thrilled to announce the title of my debut novel, set for release on 1st March 2022.
The Library of Unfinished Business is coming! Stay tuned!
“An extraordinary debut novel introducing a new voice in New Zealand literature – a genre-bending triumph of storytelling” – Lighthouse PR
I can’t wait to share this story with you.
30 November 2021
I’m delighted to announce that my short story “Dandelion Clocks” has won the 2021 NZSA Graeme Lay Short Story competition. In his announcement on Facebook today, Graeme said:
“Themes of childhood loss and the possibility of renewal make this beautifully observed and sensitively written story difficult to forget.”
Thank you, Graeme, and congratulations to the other winners and highly commended and short-listed writers.
15 November 2021
New Category: Quick Tips!
Today I’m introducing a new series called Quick Tips. Every now and then (I’ll try for every fortnight or so), I’ll post about an issue we writers tend to struggle with, and I’ll make quick suggestions for how to address it. I’ll try to keep the posts under or around 200 words.
I’ll keep on posting longer pieces as well, but sometimes we just want a quickie, right?
Check out Quick Tip #1: Adverbs.
She said, excitedly.
1 November 2021
Release date for my debut novel
My first novel is coming … Official release date is Tuesday, 1st March, 2022.
I am so excited to share this story with you.
Stay tuned!
Patricia Bell, Author 