Kay McKenzie Cooke (born 1953) is a poet from New Zealand.

Kay McKenzie Cooke
Born1953 (age 70–71)
NationalityNew Zealander
GenrePoetry
Notable worksFeeding the Dogs
Notable awardsNZSA Jessie Mackay Best First Book Award for Poetry

Background

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Cooke was born in 1953 in Tuatapere, Southland, New Zealand.[1] She is of Kāi Tahu, Kāti Māmoe, English, Scottish, and Irish descent. She attended the Dunedin Teachers' College and worked in the Early Childhood Sector.[2] Cooke currently lives in Dunedin.[3][4]

Career

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Cooke has published four collections of poems:

  • Feeding the Dogs (2002, Otago University Press)
  • Made for Weather: Poems by Kay McKenzie Cooke (2007, Otago University Press)
  • Born to a Red-Headed Woman (2014, Otago University Press)
  • "Upturned" (2020, The Cuba Press)

Cooke has been published in the 2020 & 2014 Best New Zealand Poems series and her work was praised in the 2007 edition.[5][6] She was included in The Second New Zealand Haiku Anthology[7] and Cordite Poetry Review.[8] Her work has also appeared in a number of literary journals and magazines including: Takahe, "Landfall", New Zealand Listener, Sport, JAAM, Southern Ocean Review, Trout, Glottis, and Poetry New Zealand.[2]

Cooke has published two novels: "Craggan Dhu (Time Will Tell)" Fiction. Publisher: Amazon Digital Services LLC – KDP Print U.S.A. ISBN 9798630145512 "Quick Blue Fire" Fiction. Publisher: Amazon Digital Services LLC - KDP Print U.S.A. ISBN 979-8357633552


Cooke was awarded the 2006, Dan Davin Foundation Award for her short story, ‘Where The Trees Lean Sideways’.

Cooke has collaborated with fellow poet Jenny Powell to create 'J&K On The Road Again', a project to discover and promote poetry in the rural areas of New Zealand.[9]

Awards

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In 2003 Cooke's collection, Feeding the Dogs won the NZSA Jessie Mackay Best First Book Award for Poetry at the New Zealand Book Awards.[10]

References

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  1. ^ "Kay McKenzie Cooke". Bellamys at Five. 16 March 2013. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  2. ^ a b "Kay McKenzie Cooke". New Zealand Book Council. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  3. ^ "Kay McKenzie Cooke". Shenandoah Literary. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  4. ^ "Kay McKenzie Cooke". New Zealand Electronic Poetry Centre. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  5. ^ "Best New Zealand Poems 2007". victoria.ac.nz. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  6. ^ "Best New Zealand Poems 2014". victoria.ac.nz. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  7. ^ Childs, Cyril, ed. (1998). The Second New Zealand Haiku Anthology. New Zealand Poetry Society. ISBN 9780473053741.
  8. ^ "83: Mathematics". Cordite Poetry Review. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  9. ^ "Kay Cooke". New Zealand Society of Authors & Writers Association. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  10. ^ "Montana New Zealand Book Awards". Retrieved 8 June 2018.
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