Welcome to the website for Mary-anne Scott, an award-winning author, columnist, musician and public speaker from Havelock North, Hawkes Bay.
View and purchase her books here
Latest Articles
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Two Havelock North writers have drawn on their own family histories to write books that are now finalists in the 2022 New Zealand Book Awards for Children and Young Adults.
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How I write: Mary-anne Scott likes to write in the morning when there are no distractions.
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Celebrated children’s writer Joy Watson died on October 4, aged 83. Her daughter Mary-anne Scott writes about their farewells, synchronicity, and life in a big family of books.
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Hawke's Bay author Mary-anne Scott's latest book, The Tomo, is her best yet. She has crafted her characters so well that by the end of the book I really didn't want to say goodbye to them.
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Author Mary-anne Scott has just released her latest book, The Tomo, with OneTree House ($24). This novel for young people is based on some old family lore; we asked Mary-anne to tell us more
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Mary-anne Scott is close to taking Aotearoa’s crown for best-written young men with this, her fifth book for young adults.
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About
Mary-anne Scott is a writer and musician from Havelock North, NZ. She has written six novels for young adults and children, Snakes and Ladders, Coming home to Roost, Sticking with Pigs, Spearo, Fantastic Mr Bean and The Tomo.
Mary-anne has four adult sons and six grandchildren. She is an avid reader, a guitarist and singer and writes a weekly column for Stuff News.
The Tomo
The Tomo is Mary-anne’s new novel which came out in October 2021. It’s the story of Phil who loses his father’s beloved heading dog, Blue, down a deep tomo. Phil, aged 15, is mustering on Pōhaturoa Station during his school holiday and he knows Blue’s death will break his father’s heart. So, he embarks on a dangerous rescue mission. Suitable for readers 11 and 12 upwards.
Shortlisted for the Wright Family Foundation Esther Glen Award for Junior Fiction in the NZ Book Awards for Children and Young Adults in 2022.
Fantastic Mr. Bean
Fantastic Mr Bean is a delightful story for younger readers which celebrates the tale of Roald Dahl’s Fantastic Mr Fox. The lines between acting and real life become confused for Lachie as he performs his first lead role in the school play.
Spearo
Spearo is an adventure story for readers aged 11 or 12 upwards. The action is set amidst the world of spearfishing, with all the risks and excitements of that sport, but the heart of this book is about inclusivity, in friendships, and in all relationships.
Won a Storylines Notable Book Award in 2021.
Sticking With Pigs
Sticking with Pigs is quickly becoming a favourite in NZ classrooms. This story has all the elements of adventure: danger, risk-taking, injury, pig-hunting, set against the background of an ordinary kiwi family. Suitable for all ages.
Shortlisted for the Children’s Book Award Trust NZ Young Adult Award in 2018.
Shortlisted for the 2018 NZ Mountain Film and Book Festival Awards.
Named a Storylines 2019 Notable Book.
Coming Home To Roost
Coming Home to Roost is a novel about a teenage dad. It is one of the few books that deals with this subject from a male perspective and it’s filled with humour, sadness and strong voices. Recommended for teenagers— and their parents.
Recipient of a Storylines Notable Book award, Young Adult fiction category 2017.
Short listed for 2017 NZ Children’s and Young Adult book awards.
Snakes And Ladders
Snakes and Ladders is a coming of age story about a boy, Finn who is given an opportunity to move from his rural town to boarding school in the city. He tries to fit in by hiding the circumstances of his past. After a disastrous event at an after party, he turns to face the demons he was running from.
Winner of the Teenage Choice award in 2013 for the NZ Post Book Awards.
Short-listed for 2013 LIANZA awards.
‘Dear Mary-anne’
Dear Mary-anne is an agony aunt column that runs on Stuff News each week and in about 30 papers around the country. Read the letters and the advice here.