Whetu Toa and the Magician

A fantasy story for children aged 8-11 years old. Steph was a recipient of one of the mentorships on Te Papa Tupu programme, where she worked on her young adult novel 'Flight of the Fantail'. Her writing has been published in the 'School Journal, Annual' edited by Kate De Goldi and Susan Paris, in Playmarket's 'New Zealand Play Series' and 'Kiwiparent' magazine. An extract from her novel-in-progress 'The Crystal Caves' won Best Novel Extract in the Pikihuia Awards for Māori Writers' 2017 and was published in 'Huia Short Stories 12'. Steph won best script at the Taranaki regional finals for the 48-hour short film awards in 2016 and was selected for the national finals. Her story 'A Story of Rona' won an award in the 8-12 year category in Playmarket's Plays for the Young competition in 2013 and was published in Playmarket's 'New Zealand Play Series.'

Whetu and her mum are looking after a magician's house and farm animals. In the house, things move around , giggle and quack. On the farm, the animals have tricks too. Just as Whetu is getting used to all, the magician's assistant disappers. Now, Whetu must step in, And she does something amazing with the magic in her fingertips.When Whetu’s mother takes a job organising a magician’s house and farm, Whetu becomes the animal keeper, looking after a golden ram, three lazy pigs, talking horses, a cowardly bull and the magician's stage assistant – an arrogant white rabbit called Errant. Errant’s been playing around with magic and created a carnivorous lamb, which he can’t change back. Rather than face the magician, Errant disappears and Whetu becomes the magician’s new assistant, just in time for the Royal Performance. It all seems to be going well until Errant reappears to seek his revenge, and Whetu must save the day – and the king.