Skip to content
Priestley, Dinah
Writer's File

Dinah Priestley

Wellington - Te Whanganui-a-Tara
Priestley, Dinah
In brief
Dinah Priestley writes for adults and children. She is also an artist, an actor, oral historian, and independent writer and producer for Radio New Zealand. Her local history titles include Old Thorndon (1988), and The Premier's House (1989). She has written and illustrated books for children, including Oscar, Star of the Opera (2004).
  • Rights enquiries
    dinah.priestley[AT]paradise.net.nz
  • Publicity enquiries
    Same as above
Bio

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Priestley, Dinah (1938 - ) is a writer, artist, actor and oral historian who has published books for adults and children.

Her two historical titles focus on the inner-city Wellington suburb of Thorndon, one of the city's most historic areas. They are Old Thorndon (1988) and The Premier's House (1989).

She has written and illustrated children's books including, Hector the Bully (1988), which has also been published in Finland as Hirmuinen Hektor, and That's Not Cricket (1994). The later is a humorous book about cricket as likely to appeal to cricket-mad adults as children. Priestley's other projects include the 'Wellingtonic' series of cards, featuring colourful batik illustrations of Wellington's nightlife.

Oscar, Star of the Opera was published by Scholastic in 2004. Dinah Priestley has created a mask of Oscar, the star character in this book, which she uses in her Writers in Schools visits.

Oscar, Star of the Opera and That's Not Cricket are now available through the author at Anchorage Studio, 31 Patanga Cres, Thorndon, Wellington, or Email: dinah.priestley@paradise.net.nz.

Priestley acts from time to time for television. She also scripts, voices and produces programmes for Radio New Zealand. She lives in Wellington.

Related writers

View all