Auckland Queer Writers Anthology

Queer writers from across Tāmaki Makarau have banded together to create an anthology of short stories and poetry, the proceeds of which will go to Outline Aotearoa.

We are raising funds to publish a polished physical and digital book, to present free copies to Auckland Libraries, and to throw a launch party where the community can celebrate the mahi with live readings and book signings.

The organisers of the anthology are:

Claire Hiria Dunning (Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kahungunu, Ngāti Raukawa, pronouns: she/her/they/them) was a mentee in the Te Papa Tupu 2024 cohort, and is the host of the international weekend writing prompt #pretendpanel on Bluesky. No matter which genre playground they're playing in, whether on stage, poem, prose or gaming console, their fantastical and inclusive stories come from the heart.

Jade du Preez (she/her) is a Tāmaki Makaurau-based author and an award-winning writer of short fiction. She has published one novel, a few short stories and is presently undertaking a Masters of Creative Writing through Massey University.

Jamie Sands is a non-binary (he/they) kiwi who’s always been wondering ‘what if’? A number one bestseller on Amazon, they write inclusive optimistic urban fantasy and romance highlighting queer characters. Jamie grew up in Wellington but now lives in Auckland with their wonderful spouse and two formally-stray cats.

You will meet the rest of our authors over the course of the campaign in our regular updates.

(Another person we want to mention is @thedrawingmangocat who is our cover designer and who we also have to thank for the Pride Moths art in our banner. More on her in a later update!)

We have been blessed to receive a Creative Communities Scheme grant from Auckland Council x Creative NZ. But there are certain costs they cannot cover under the terms of that grant, so we are here to raise enough to cover:

• Venue hire for the publication launch party, including the PA system, cleaning and security fees, food and drink, and licensing
• Any remaining or unforeseen costs in our other expenses e.g. our cover artist's beautiful work, our editor and formatter, getting the book physically printed in a limited run, and small runs of marketing so we can make sure the community is aware of our book's existence and how each purchase raises funds for OutLine Aotearoa

In the event that we have any unspent funds after all the costs of the publication and launch party have been paid up, we will donate the remaining money to OutLine, along with the sales proceeds for every copy of the book sold online and offline.

Since June 2025, we have been meeting with a group of queer writers assembled by open call. We've been drafting and workshopping material to contribute to this book which we want to be a taonga to our community.

Presently, we are editing, formatting, and polishing a publication which will launch in February 2026 to coincide with the Auckland Pride Festival.

On February 28th 2026 we will host a launch party at Studio One Toi Tū in Ponsonby. Tickets are free - but tickets are required for the sake of numbers, first come first served (available here: https://events.humanitix.com/aqwa-book-launch). We will have free kai, live readings and book signings.

We are wanting to gift copies of the physical book to Auckland Libraries so that the LGBTQIA+ community in Tāmaki Makarau have access to this taonga for a long time.

Any funds raised from the sales of the physical and digital book will go to OutLine Aotearoa to support their mahi in our community.

By contributing to us you are supporting:

- emerging LGBTQIA+ authors and poets in Tāmaki Makarau

- readers in Tāmaki Makarau and wider who will connect with this mahi (the works are suitable for teen readers and up)

- OutLine Aotearoa, because if we can fully fund all costs for publication, publishing and marketing before the sales of the book begin then that means they will get 100% of the proceeds