Stop the Clocks: On Grief

Damien Wilkins is one of New Zealand's leading writers. His novels have twice won the national book award. He also received a Whiting Award. He teaches creative writing at Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington. He records his own songs under the name The Close Readers.

Dr Kathryn Heyman is the author of seven novels as well as a memoir, a poetry collection and several dramas for stage and for BBC radio. Her work has won and been nominated for numerous awards in Australia and the UK and her memoir, Fury, is in development as a feature film. Circle of Wonders is her latest novel.

Michael Winkler is a writer of novels, non-fiction, journalism and book reviews. He won the Calibre Award for his essay 'The Great Red Whale'. His previous novel Grimmish was the first self-published book ever shortlisted for the Miles Franklin Literary Award. His latest novel is called Griefdogg.

Josie Shapiro is the author of two novels, Good Things Come and Go and Everything is Beautiful and Everything Hurts. She was a Sargeson Fellow in 2024 and one of 2025's New Voices of Aotearoa. She lives in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland with her husband and two daughters.

Raeden Richardson is a novelist and essayist. His first novel, The Degenerates (2024) was nominated for the Miles Franklin Literary Award, the Voss Literary Prize and the ALS Gold Medal. His writing has appeared in Griffith Review, Meanjin, Kill Your Darlings, The Sydney Morning Herald and New Australian Fiction. He is a graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. His writing has been supported by Creative Australia, the American Australian Association and the Ian Potter Cultural Trust. He is currently working on his second novel.