Meet Anna

Investigative Journalist turned Children’s Author Anna Kenna

I was born in London, England, of Irish parents and came on a ship to live in New Zealand at 18-months-old. Now, as a mum myself to two adult daughters, I still embrace my Irish ancestry and enjoy all things Irish.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve loved writing. I have a vivid imagination and have always tended to live in my head, which is a very busy place!

At school, I used to write some of my classmates’ essays, because I was good at English, and they did my maths, which I was hopeless at it. One day I got busted for ghost writing someone’s essay and didn’t do it again!

For as long as I can remember, writing has been how I make sense of the world. It’s how I work out what I’m thinking and solve problems. I don’t choose to write, I feel compelled to. To me it’s like breathing.

I became a journalist because I liked writing and needed a career where I could earn a decent living. I spent more than 30 years as a journalist before deciding to take some time out to complete a creative writing course.

Through the course I was exposed to different genres but developed a strong desire to write for children. Many of the stories and books I’ve had published over the years were for the education market and are used in classrooms and around the globe.

One of the things that motivates me as a children’s author is being able to encourage young people to have confidence in their ability to influence change. The biggest force for action in the world is the power of people. I’ve always felt it’s important to stand up for what you believe in and not accept things that are cruel, unfair or unjust.

I hope my books show kids their voices matter and, as the inheritors of the planet, they have an absolute right to have a say and influence the kind of world they want to live in.

When I’m not writing, I’m a runner and enjoy being in the outdoors. I have done a few long walks in Europe (around 500kms) carrying just seven kilos in my pack for up to six weeks. It is very liberating.

I live on the Kapiti Coast in New Zealand, close to the beach, with my husband John. Between us, we have five adult children and two cairn terriers, Louie and Rosie. I love dogs and have had many in my life, both big and small and with unique personalities. One of the books in my Viola Vincent series is about puppy farming, a global industry that cruelly breeds and trades dogs like fashionable products.