In Wānaka’s Next Chapter bookshop last week to meet fans of her first novel, The Vanishing Point, Hotere confirmed she is already researching her next stories.
The Vanishing Point was released in October last year and delves into the mysteries of Spanish painter Diego Velazquez’s famous art work, Las Meninas (Ladies in Waiting).
Hotere’s plot crosses two time zones — 1656, when the artist completed his painting, and 1999, when art intern Alex is determined to discover why Picasso said the painting was "a picture painted with curses".
Hotere is a regular visitor to Wānaka and was enjoying supporting local book club members and readers.
"We love coming down to Wānaka and I love this book shop. It is so sweet and it is stocked with exciting books," she said.
She is the daughter of renowned Otago writer Cilla McQueen and artist Ralph Hotere, and grew up in Port Chalmers.
She lives in Auckland with her architect husband Richard Naish and their children.
They built a holiday home in Cardrona in 2015 and it is there that she has begun outlining her next book.
"Book two is all over the table. I am working on it, doing some research. I brought a big box of books with me. My suitcase was quite heavy. I think I have got two more at this stage," she said.
"When I started writing [The Vanishing Point] I didn’t think there would be another one. But when I finished this, the other ideas just flowed into my head."
Wānaka Library member Sally Angus was delighted to discover Hotere was in town.
"I reserved her book at the library and when I went to pick it up today there was a note stuck on it saying, ‘Andrea will be here for a signing this afternoon’.
"I thought I had better get my skates on," she said, as she presented the library’s copy of The Vanishing Point for Hotere to sign.
