Children's fiction author
Kate writes mysteries and fantasy adventures for readers aged 7 to 12, published by her imprint, Relish Books.
She is working on more junior fiction books and a suspense novel for older readers.
She is co-authoring a nonfiction title, Successful Independent Publishing in New Zealand, with Christchurch book coach and editor Leanne Wickham.
Book publicity
Kate combines her 30+ years’ experience in marketing and communications, her passion for books and growing knowledge of the New Zealand book sector to offer book publicity and marketing services to indie authors and publishers.
Through her business Relish Communications, Kate’s book publicity projects help authors get reviews and media coverage in the New Zealand market as part of their comprehensive book launch campaigns.
Indie publishing coach
Drawing on her own experience as an independent publisher and working with 70+ indie authors when she created and ran the Kiwi Kids’ Bookstore, Kate coaches other New Zealand authors exploring self-publishing.
Through her business Relish Communications, she continues to research and learn about indie publishing options in the New Zealand market, and loves helping authors find the best options to publish their book and find their readers.
The next book from me
I’m co-authoring a book for the very first time!
Leanne Wickham, a book coach and editor based in Christchurch, is working with me to create what we intend to be an extremely helpful and practical guide to self-publishing for NZ authors.
Filled with tips and interviews from successful indie authors and book sector professionals, we’ll help you create the best book you can and get it in front of your target reaaders in the New Zealand market.
It’s call Successful Indie Publishing in New Zealand and we’re working hard to have to ready to publish early in 2027.
Red Collie Mysteries
Fun, fast-paced reads for dog-lovers aged 7 to 10, the Red Collie Mysteries feature Maddie and her red-and-white Border Collie called Ruby, as well as Maddie’s friends Josh, Rose, Izzy and Jennifer, and their dogs!
Set in my former hometown, Wanaka, the Red Collie Mysteries are full of twists and turns as Maddie and her friends investigate these kid-friendly mysteries.
One reviewer says: Maddison and her friends push the boundaries just enough. They straddle the line between their growing independence, parental expectations, and curiosity, in a relatable way. The adventures the group get up to are exciting and interesting, but not overly scary.
The Unicorn King series
Lily and the Unicorn King is a fantastical adventure of pony-loving readers aged 9 to 12.
No pink, fluffy unicorns here! These are warrior unicorns and they’ve arrived on Lily’s family farm via a magic portal to escape a witch determined to enslave them. Can Lily and her friends help them evade capture?
The Unicorn King’s Goodnight Journal and Sketchbook is a great little wire-bound notebook for writing your own stories, drawing horses and unicorns, and enjoying colouring unicorns.
I am working on the other two books in this series – Sasha and the Warrior Unicorn, and Chloe and the Unicorn Mystic – and hope to publish them by 2028.
© Kate Gordon-Smith, Relish Media and Communications Ltd 2026