Millers Flat resident Kyle Mewburn says he is pleased but surprised to fulfil a lifelong ambition of making a living from writing.
Mr Mewburn read his latest book, Duck Stuck, to children at the opening of the New Zealand Post Book Awards Otago Festival Programme at the Dunedin Public Library last night.
Duck Stuck is written in the "rhythmic, flowing style" he favours.
"I hope my books make children think about words, and about words being fun," he said.
He moved to Central Otago in 1990, and has been a full-time writer since 1997.
Although he has written in different genres, most of his commercial success has been with children's literature.
His book Kiss! Kiss! Yuck! Yuck!, illustrated by Wellington artists Ali Teo and John O'Reilly, won the Picture Book and Children's Choice categories of the New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children and Young Adults last year.
He won a third Joy Cowley Award (for development of a picture book text) in 2005.
"Since the awards, I've been in the enviable position of being able to make a living from writing. It's not a huge income, but I'm finally able to say it pays," he said.
He gained a bachelor of business degree from the Queensland Institute of Technology, specialising in advertising, and says these studies helped with his writing and in condensing information to be accessible to a broad audience.
"At least now I can use my skills in a positive way which benefits children and I'm not selling a product I don't believe in", he said.
His previous titles include The Bear in the Room Next Door and No Room for a Mouse.
