New Joan Rosier-Jones' guide for Whanganui book lovers launched

Whanganui author Joan Rosier-Jones will launch her new guide book <i>Literary Whanganui</i> this month. Photo/Supplied

When author Joan Rosier-Jones came to live in Whanganui in the early 2000s, she discovered a literary history that was a lot bigger than she imagined.

The writer is now sharing her discoveries in a new guide book Literary Whanganui to be launched in Whanganui this month.

Besides the obvious writers such as James K Baxter, Robin Hyde and John A Lee, who all spent time beside the river, the book introduces Elizabeth Allen who wrote A Farm on the Wanganui River, Ted Lewis who wrote the memoir, I Was No Soldier, Emily Marshall-White who wrote My New Zealand Garden and many more.

"I set out to learn more about particular authors and was astonished and delighted at who else my research brought to light."

Rosier-Jones began guiding bus and boat tours that coincided with the Whanganui Literary Festival in 2006.

"The tours grew in length and strength.

"People who were unable to come on the tours were disappointed so I have written the book as a guide for them."

As well as the writer profiles, there are maps for readers to take themselves on walking and river tours."

Rosier-Jones is the author of several fiction and non-fiction books including The Murder of Chow Yat - an investigation of an unsolved murder that occurred in Whanganui in 1922.

She is also a creative writing tutor and an active member of the NZ Society of Authors.

Literary Whanganui retails for $30 and will be available form Paige's Book Gallery from July 26.