James NORCLIFFE has published five collections of poetry, most recently Along Blueskin Road (2005), a collection of short stories, Chinese Interpreter (1994) and five novels for young adults, among them The Assassin of Gleam (2006). His writing has appeared widely in New Zealand and the U.S.; his prizes include the Lilian Ida Smith Award (1990), the Robert Burns Fellowship (2000), and the Christchurch Press Literary Liaisons Honour Award (2003). A member and officer of the NZ Society of Authors, he is currently the president of the New Zealand Poetry Society. He participates courtesy of the Arts Council of New Zealand.