‘The Best Time for Planning a Book is While You’re Doing the Dishes’
Agatha Christie
… Published Books:
I, Said The Lark Fiction. Novel. Published by KDP 2024
Quick Blue Fire Fiction. Novel. Published by KDP 2023
Upturned Poetry. The Cuba Press. 2020
Craggan Dhu: Time Will Tell Fiction. Novel. Published by KDP 2020
Born To A Red-Headed Woman Poetry. Otago University Press, 2014.
Made for Weather Poetry. Otago University Press, 2007.
Feeding the Dogs Poetry. Otago University Press, 2002 (Won the Best First Book of Poetry (Jessie McKay Prize) at the Montana Awards in 2003.
… Published Short Stories
2015 in Phantom Billstickers journal, Cafe Reader
2007 ‘Concierto de Aranjuez’ received Commended in a competition run by the Nelson Branch of NZSA and judged by Owen Marshall.
2006, Dan Davin Foundation Award for, ‘Where The Trees Lean Sideways’.
2005 in ‘Racing Tales’.
Some time in the mid-90’s: Short story, ‘Spot You Later, Mate’ featured on the children’s TV show, ‘Chatterbox’.
… Poetry Anthologies / Literary Magazines where my work has been published:
‘Tuturau’ in Te Awa O Kupu published by Penguin Books, 2023.
‘this old house’ in Wild Honey Reading New Zealand Women’s Poetry by Paula Green publ. by Massey University Press 2019.
Broadsheet 22 Featuring Jeanne Bernhardt published by Mark Pirie (broadsheet, no.22, November 2018, featured the Otago writer Jeanne Bernhardt. Others included were: Sandra Bell, Jill Chan (1973-2018), Kay McKenzie Cooke, Michael Duffett (USA), David Eggleton, Bernadette Hall, Peter Olds, Michael O’Leary, Jenny Powell, Richard Reeve, Damian Ruth, and Laura Solomon).
‘Artichoke Seedhead’ in Cordite November 2017
‘Kakariki Bookshop’ is in Phantom Billstickers’ Cafe Reader, Volume 15 Spring 2017
‘Maniototo’ in Broadsheet / 18 November 2016
‘sheep truck’ was placed third in a competition and appears in the anthology, ‘Plate in the Mirror 2016’.
‘Monkey puzzle sunrise’ published in collection, ‘To Kingdom Come – voices against political violence’. Published, 2016. Edited by Rethabile Masilo
Poems, ‘nor-easter’, ‘Marjorie’, why did we think we were ugly?’ and ‘between beach and road’, were all published in The Scribbler; (OUSA publication).
‘Sacred Days’ was selected by the present poet laureate, Vincent O’Sullivan, as one of the poems to feature in the Best NZ Poems 2014. This poem was also included in the printed, bilingual edition of Best New Zealand Poems, translated into Chinese by Liang Yujing.
https://wearenz.org/2014/04/08/tuesday-poem-in-a-foreign-field-by-kay-mackenzie-cooke/
‘feeding the dogs‘ is in, ‘Essential New Zealand Poems : Facing the Empty Page’ . Selected by Siobahn Harvey, James Norcliffe and Harry Ricketts. Publ. by Godwit.
‘strangely parted’ for ‘These I have Loved’ by Harvey McQueen. Publ. by Roger Steele, 2010
‘all that’ for, ‘Swings and Roundabouts’ Publ. by Random House, 2008
And poems in …
Oban 06 (online poetry anthology – NZEPC) 2006
‘Under Flagstaff’ selected by Robin Law and Heather Murray. Publ. by Univ. of Otago Press, 2004
‘Fusebox’ (Zoetropes; USA) ed. by David Howard 2003
‘seed pearls’ (Australia;) August, 2003
‘evil’ OUSA literary review; 2003
‘revival’ OUSA literary review; 2002
‘song of the bellybutton man’ publ by Artsenta; 2002
‘Great Kiwi Poetry Slam 2001’ publ by Brian Rigger; 2002
‘the whole wide world’ publ by NZPS; 2000
‘An Exchange of Gifts’; publ by NZPS; 2001
‘All Together Now’ edited by Tony Chad publ by Valley Micropress; 2000
‘Tapping the Tank’ publ by NZPS; 1999
‘the second New Zealand Haiku Anthology’; edited by Cyril Childs; publ by New Zealand Poetry Society (NZPS) 1998
climbing the flame tree’ publ by NZPS; 1998
The Ordinary magic’ publ by NZPS; 1997
‘Catching the Rainbow’; publ by NZPS; 1996
‘sky falling’ publ by NZPS;1995
‘Black Before the Sun’ publ by NZPS; 1993
‘Ginger Stardust’ publ by NZPS; 1992
‘Balancing on Blue’ publ by NZPS; 1991
‘Frosted Rails’ publ by NZPS; 1990
‘Winter’s Blossom’ publ by NZPS; 1989
… Work Published in following Literary Magazines, Popular Magazines, Literary Journals, On-Line MAgazines and Newspapers :
Cordite
Broadsheet
Phantom Billstickers
Scribbler
Shenandoah Magazine, USA.
Journal of Katherine Mansfield Society (Issue: October, 2012)
Sport
Takahe
Poetry NZ
Glottis
JAAM
Southern Ocean Review
North and South
Listener
Christchurch Press
Otago Daily Times
Landfall
Deep South
Southerly (Aus.)
Dominion Post
‘North and South’ – My Home Town article, 1993
‘The Graduate’ (OUSA) – two articles published, 1998
… Events and Positions: …
NOTE: RECENT EVENTS NOW LISTED ON EVENTS PAGE
For J&K Rolling events, go to J&K Rolling page.
* September 13th 2017; Reading at Dog With Two Tails with Michael O’Leary, Jenny Powell, Bill Dacker, David Eggleton …)
* August 25th 2017; National Poetry Day Reading at Library (reading with Jenny Powell, Peter Olds, Fiona Farrell, Brian Turner, Jillian Sullivan, Victor Billot, Liz Breslin, Sue Wootton and David Howard).
*July 27th; 2017 In memory of John Dickson Reading; Crown Hotel.
* June 21st ; 2017 Octagon Collective Poetry Reading at Dog With Two Tails cafe.
*April 2017 ; J&K Rolling poetry reading in Lawrence at Graeme Furness’ Exit Studio and Gallery.
*August 2016; J&K Rolling poetry reading & Open Mic. for NZ Poetry Day at Wanaka library
*August 2016; Invited guest reader. Poetry Reading at ‘Dog With Two Tails’ cafe.
*May 9th (Monday) 2016 Writer’s Salon at Thistle Cafe, Octagon, Dunedin – writers read extracts from their work. I will read poetry as well as prose.
• April 2016: J&K Rolling Outrider Poetry Reading in Queenstown at Queenstown Library. Reading and Open Mic
• August (Friday, 28th) 2015: With poets Jenny Powell and Richard Reeve, will be reading poetry at ‘8 on 87′ cafe in Outram. This is a J and K Rolling National Poetry Day event. (As a follow-up to National Poetry Day, Jenny Powell and I will be reading at Gore Library, Sept. 4th).
• June 2015: MC for poets Jocelind Dunford and Jenny Powell as guest readers for Octagon Collective’s Circadian Rhythm poetry readings.
* May 2015: ‘Poetry in the Pub’ event at the Leviathan Hotel as part of Dunedin Writer’s and Reader’s Festival. I read along with poets Michael Harlow, the 2015 Burns Fellow Louise Wallace, Rogelio Guidea and Peter Olds.
• April: My poem, ‘sacred days’ was selected by the present poet laureate, Vincent O’Sullivan, to feature in the Best NZ Poems site for 2014.
• March 2015: Read at Orepuki Beach Cafe in Western Southland. Myself and Jenny Powell read poetry, along with local poets, as part of J and K Rolling’s Whistlestop Tours readings.
• Co-judge with Burns Fellow Majella Cullinade for Robert Burns poetry competition. January 2015
• Read at Careys Bay Hotel with Jenny Powell as part of a JnK Rolling Whistlestop. December 2014.
• Introduced poets Sue Wootton, Doc Drummond, Pat White and David Eggleton for poetry event Four Poets (a Poetry in the Waiting Room event). October 2014
*Read at Palmerston library, Oamaru library and at Middlemarch Quench Cafe as part of poetry reading tour with Jenny Powell (J&K Rolling’s Whistlestop Tour II) (Partly funded by Booksellers NZ and National Poetry Day). August 2014
*Read at Gore library (J&K Rolling’s Whistlestop Tour II) (Partly-funded by Booksellers NZ and National Poetry Day). August 2014
• Invited Reader at NZSA (Dunedin Branch) Writer’s Salon held at Thistle Cafe, Octagon, Dunedin. 14th July, 2014.
• My third poetry collection, ‘Born To A Red-Headed Woman’ launched, June 25th 2014
• A featured reader at the ‘Chain Reaction’ event – a part of Dunedin’s Writer Reader Festival, May 2014. (Note: Due to the death of my mother, unable to take part in this event).
• Guest reader (along with Alison Denham) at Circadian Rhythm Poetry Readings, April, 2014
• Invited reader (along with poet, David Howard) at Blueskin Bay library, March, 2014.
• Co-reader at J&K Rolling’s Reading at South Sea Gallery, Brighton, Saturday November 23rd, 2013.
• Invited Reader (along with Sue Wootton, Brian Turner, David Eggleton) for Poetry in the Waiting Room’s Bellamys at Five Poetry Reading, September 15th 2013.
• Co-reader and co-organiser with Jenny Powell on J&K Rolling’s Southland Poetry Reading tour for National Poetry Day, August 2013. (Funded by National Poetry Day and Booksellers NZ). (Read at Gore, Winton and Invercargill libraries).
• Helped form (with poet Jenny Powell) ‘J&K Rolling’ – a poet-duo.
• Reader at Au Chat Noir Cafe, Paris, France. June 24th 2013.
*Judge for Poetry Competition, ‘Poems in the waiting Room’, March 2012
• Made Trustee for ‘Poetry in the Waiting Room’ 2011
*Invited poet for NZPS, Wellington, August, 2011
• Invited reader for Tokanui Community Arts Poetry Afternoon, July, 2010
• Invited poet for Southland Arts festival, April, 2011
• Invited reader Canterbury Poets’ Collective, Christchurch, March, 2010
• Invited poet for Hone Tuwhare Tribute, at Speech Teachers Conference, 2008
• One of several invited poets for Southland Arts Festival, 2008
• Invited poet at Palmerston North library Oct. 2007
• Invited poet, Invercargill library, September 30th, 2007
• Invited poet for Poetry Day, Dunedin Public Library, July, 2007
• Bluff and Oban 06, Stewart Island 2006
• Invited poet, High School English Teachers’ Conference, Dunedin, 2004
• Invited poet, Stewart Island Star Foundation Arts Festival, February, 2003
• Invited Poet Owaka Community Arts, 2002
11th Letter In 