About Us
Stephanie Hammond:
Chief Chronicler
Stephanie Hammond was inspired by her family history to call their publishing imprint Delahoyde Publishing. She is our Chief Chronicler. Stephanie has a Master's Degree in Politics and Geography from the University of Waikato and worked as a Town Planner.
STEPHANIE'S BIO
As a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, I enjoy the kaleidoscope of a large, loving family. In my 30s I achieved a Masters Degree, and started a successful career as a Town Planner. In the decades that followed, I travelled to the UK, Greece, China, India, Tibet and throughout the USA, where I lived for three years. During my time in the USA, I wrote my first novel, Last Days in Atlantis.
In 2011, I married Neil, and together we enjoy this new phase in our lives.
My latest book is the memoir, An Addict in the Family. Other works include the historic/fantasy novel Last Days in Atlantis and my children’s stories about Beatrice, the angel with one large wing.
I have always loved books and reading. I remember as a child every Friday after work Dad would take us to the book exchange. He loved reading too. My sense of adventure, and love of immersing myself in other worlds was born and nurtured through Enid Blyton’s Famous Five and Secret Seven books.
As I got older I realised my life was reflected in the words of great writers. Through their words I learned about myself, some things I liked, some embarrassed me. But learning was exciting and growth was inevitable.
The feel and taste and sound of words are delightful and delicious to me. I dream of writing about my experiences, especially those I am passionate about. For example, I used to be passionate about religion. Now I describe myself as 'spiritual', not 'religious', and my faith has deepened with this focus. I wonder what a memoir of me and religion would look like! Perhaps that's a topic to explore further.
I also think of my parents and grandparents and great grandparents, and wonder about their stories and traditions. Am I reflections of them, their hopes and fears and dreams? I recently discovered my roots are in the Wonnarua Mob, an Indigenous Australian people. One day I hope to write about this discovery and the additional layer of complexity I now enjoy as a result of knowing my roots.
I write what is meaningful to me, from out of my own life experiences, what I’ve learned, who I've become, with all my strengths and imperfections. Although fictionalised, my novel of Last Days in Atlantis has a lot of me woven into the character of Mari. I'm currently producing a second edition of this novel. I hope I keep "me" in it.
Thus we come to the last few years which seemed a never-ending roller-coaster ride as I sought to support my adult son who is a methamphetamine user, and tried to navigate the justice and rehabilitation systems on his behalf. My children have taken me on many an adventure with their pursuits, but none as fear ridden as this has been for me. Putting my experiences in my memoir has been a challenge. Am I exposing too much?
I trust that my love and hope is reflected in the telling of my story. My experience showed me that few of us, at least here in New Zealand, are untouched in some way by addiction. My struggles are mirrored in the lives of many other family members trying to support their addicted loved ones.
I hope my memoir inspires and gives hope to my family and to others in similar circumstances.
Visit Stephanie at www.StephanieHammondAuthor.com to learn more about her and see her current projects.
STEPHANIE'S BIO
As a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, I enjoy the kaleidoscope of a large, loving family. In my 30s I achieved a Masters Degree, and started a successful career as a Town Planner. In the decades that followed, I travelled to the UK, Greece, China, India, Tibet and throughout the USA, where I lived for three years. During my time in the USA, I wrote my first novel, Last Days in Atlantis.
In 2011, I married Neil, and together we enjoy this new phase in our lives.
My latest book is the memoir, An Addict in the Family. Other works include the historic/fantasy novel Last Days in Atlantis and my children’s stories about Beatrice, the angel with one large wing.
I have always loved books and reading. I remember as a child every Friday after work Dad would take us to the book exchange. He loved reading too. My sense of adventure, and love of immersing myself in other worlds was born and nurtured through Enid Blyton’s Famous Five and Secret Seven books.
As I got older I realised my life was reflected in the words of great writers. Through their words I learned about myself, some things I liked, some embarrassed me. But learning was exciting and growth was inevitable.
The feel and taste and sound of words are delightful and delicious to me. I dream of writing about my experiences, especially those I am passionate about. For example, I used to be passionate about religion. Now I describe myself as 'spiritual', not 'religious', and my faith has deepened with this focus. I wonder what a memoir of me and religion would look like! Perhaps that's a topic to explore further.
I also think of my parents and grandparents and great grandparents, and wonder about their stories and traditions. Am I reflections of them, their hopes and fears and dreams? I recently discovered my roots are in the Wonnarua Mob, an Indigenous Australian people. One day I hope to write about this discovery and the additional layer of complexity I now enjoy as a result of knowing my roots.
I write what is meaningful to me, from out of my own life experiences, what I’ve learned, who I've become, with all my strengths and imperfections. Although fictionalised, my novel of Last Days in Atlantis has a lot of me woven into the character of Mari. I'm currently producing a second edition of this novel. I hope I keep "me" in it.
Thus we come to the last few years which seemed a never-ending roller-coaster ride as I sought to support my adult son who is a methamphetamine user, and tried to navigate the justice and rehabilitation systems on his behalf. My children have taken me on many an adventure with their pursuits, but none as fear ridden as this has been for me. Putting my experiences in my memoir has been a challenge. Am I exposing too much?
I trust that my love and hope is reflected in the telling of my story. My experience showed me that few of us, at least here in New Zealand, are untouched in some way by addiction. My struggles are mirrored in the lives of many other family members trying to support their addicted loved ones.
I hope my memoir inspires and gives hope to my family and to others in similar circumstances.
Visit Stephanie at www.StephanieHammondAuthor.com to learn more about her and see her current projects.
Phoebe Wilby: Editor-in-Chief
Stephanie's daughter, Phoebe Wilby, is Delahoyde's Editor-in-Chief. Phoebe was named for her Great-Great Grandmother, Phoeby Agnes Ryan.
Phoebe is an accomplished author who contributes her copy writing and editing skills to Delahoyde Publishing.
PHOEBE'S BIO
I was born in Australia and, although Australia still has a huge piece of my heart, I regard myself as a citizen of the world. I'm currently living in the Republic of Ireland with my husband.
My five children have now flown the nest and it's a new stage in my life. Aside from writing and working full-time, we are also renovating a quaint farmhouse. When I say 'we', I really mean my husband is doing this renovating!
I have been writing since childhood, including horror stories, humour, and poetry, usually about life as I saw it then. My life is still the inspiration for my writing.
I have a background in journalism, and while studying for my Bachelor of Journalism, I was blessed to win the Literary Achievement Award for Excellence in Fiction from the Golden Key International Honour Society, of which I'm a lifetime member for my fictionalised treatment of the September 11, 2001 tragedy in New York.
I'm beginning to make time for my writing now, and it is refreshing to be able to do this. My life gets a bit chaotic at times. yet I wouldn't have it any other way. Still, this semi-chaotic lifestyle is perfect for short-story writing - not so good for novels, though.
I am trying to persevere with a few longer works I have in the pipeline, as well as a couple of anthologies to keep company with Point of View, Time Is Of The Essence, and my memoir, Always One Step Ahead Of The Storm.
Sometimes I really don't think I have the attention span to write a novel. However, I have so many projects on the go that the characters are beginning to take over my life completely.
Visit Phoebe at www.PhoebeWilbyAuthor.com to see what she's up to on her current projects - both her books and the abandoned house in Ireland she and her husband, Eoghan, are renovating.
Phoebe is an accomplished author who contributes her copy writing and editing skills to Delahoyde Publishing.
PHOEBE'S BIO
I was born in Australia and, although Australia still has a huge piece of my heart, I regard myself as a citizen of the world. I'm currently living in the Republic of Ireland with my husband.
My five children have now flown the nest and it's a new stage in my life. Aside from writing and working full-time, we are also renovating a quaint farmhouse. When I say 'we', I really mean my husband is doing this renovating!
I have been writing since childhood, including horror stories, humour, and poetry, usually about life as I saw it then. My life is still the inspiration for my writing.
I have a background in journalism, and while studying for my Bachelor of Journalism, I was blessed to win the Literary Achievement Award for Excellence in Fiction from the Golden Key International Honour Society, of which I'm a lifetime member for my fictionalised treatment of the September 11, 2001 tragedy in New York.
I'm beginning to make time for my writing now, and it is refreshing to be able to do this. My life gets a bit chaotic at times. yet I wouldn't have it any other way. Still, this semi-chaotic lifestyle is perfect for short-story writing - not so good for novels, though.
I am trying to persevere with a few longer works I have in the pipeline, as well as a couple of anthologies to keep company with Point of View, Time Is Of The Essence, and my memoir, Always One Step Ahead Of The Storm.
Sometimes I really don't think I have the attention span to write a novel. However, I have so many projects on the go that the characters are beginning to take over my life completely.
Visit Phoebe at www.PhoebeWilbyAuthor.com to see what she's up to on her current projects - both her books and the abandoned house in Ireland she and her husband, Eoghan, are renovating.
Stephanie's daughter, Amy O'Brien is Delahoyde's editor and proofreader. We are enthusiastic about recommending her skills to you. She is thorough and detailed and has a wonderful grasp of the English language.
AMY'S BIO
Hi, I’m Amy O'Brien.
Paramedic by day, writer, proofreader, editor by night ... I’m the middle child amongst the heap of steps, halves and wholes that make up my family. The older I get the more I accept my middle child tendencies. I’m pretty lucky. I think I turned out pretty, and reasonably balanced. Laugh out loud. I did!
Lucky for me, I'm not 'alone' and am truly blessed with my beautiful partner. He does everything he possibly could to make my world wonderful!
I love my alone time, don’t get me wrong, this is a positive where publishing is concerned, because I can take time to explore the intricacies of the written material before me.
When I was younger I kept a journal and wrote a lot of poetry. I was far more tortured and filled with angst back then. On the odd occasion I do find myself filled with enough emotion to stimulate some word sequences that mature into poetry, but tend more towards starting novels. When I finish one, you will be the first to know.
I am an avid reader myself. I have an exemplary knack for detecting and correcting errors in grammar and spelling, even on menus when dining out.
I'm working towards a diploma in proofreading and editing to give credence to my talent of perfecting the written word and creating the perfect structure. I find nothing more disappointing than grammar and spelling mistakes in the printed word. (You didn't find any did you?) laugh again!
Bottom line up front ... or at the end ... I love correctly worded sentences.
AMY'S BIO
Hi, I’m Amy O'Brien.
Paramedic by day, writer, proofreader, editor by night ... I’m the middle child amongst the heap of steps, halves and wholes that make up my family. The older I get the more I accept my middle child tendencies. I’m pretty lucky. I think I turned out pretty, and reasonably balanced. Laugh out loud. I did!
Lucky for me, I'm not 'alone' and am truly blessed with my beautiful partner. He does everything he possibly could to make my world wonderful!
I love my alone time, don’t get me wrong, this is a positive where publishing is concerned, because I can take time to explore the intricacies of the written material before me.
When I was younger I kept a journal and wrote a lot of poetry. I was far more tortured and filled with angst back then. On the odd occasion I do find myself filled with enough emotion to stimulate some word sequences that mature into poetry, but tend more towards starting novels. When I finish one, you will be the first to know.
I am an avid reader myself. I have an exemplary knack for detecting and correcting errors in grammar and spelling, even on menus when dining out.
I'm working towards a diploma in proofreading and editing to give credence to my talent of perfecting the written word and creating the perfect structure. I find nothing more disappointing than grammar and spelling mistakes in the printed word. (You didn't find any did you?) laugh again!
Bottom line up front ... or at the end ... I love correctly worded sentences.
