One of the most successful authors in British history, with legions of fans and millions of pounds to her name is not immune to pressure.

The sniper is on a roof-top opposite a playground. He has a child in his cross-hairs.

The moment that Mary Quin thought she would die was in a gunfight with an AK-47 jammed into her spine.

Condemnation of Kim Dotcom's possession of a signed copy of Mein Kampf has been ridiculous, writes Sir Bob Jones.

Books editor Linda Herrick lets you in on her picks of this year's Writer's Festival lineup.

Scottish writer Alexander McCall Smith spent a year in Belfast in the middle of the Troubles. Amid the bombs and blasts, he discovered a great love, he tells Linda Herrick.

Prime Minister John Key's wife Bronagh has taken on a few royal-like duties herself as an ambassador for the Blind Foundation and passed on a Hairy Maclary 'touch and feel' book for Prince George while dining with the royal couple last night.

Stephen Jewell talks to ‘Swedish Agatha Christie’ Camilla Lackberg about her close friendship with her characters, fact being darker than fiction and the myths surrounding her country.

Val McDermid's Northanger Abbey is the second stage of The Austen Project, for which four writers have been invited to produce a contemporary version of a Jane Austen novel.

The charming title of this book is a quotation from The Adventures Of Robinson Crusoe.

Don Brash devotes all of three paragraphs to the Exclusive Brethren in his 330-page autobiography despite his dealings with the Church.

No continent is left out in this roll call of diverse and wonderful sites.

On December 19, 1910, a few months after the publication of Howard's End, E. M. Forster began sketching out the plan for a new novel.

When Carole Beu opened the Women’s Bookshop 25 years ago, she didn’t realise she would be creating something much bigger than a retail space, writes Linda Herrick.

BBC journalist Kirsty Wark tells Stephen Jewell about her debut novel, and how it feels being the subject of the critics for a change.

A Massey University author was surprised to hear Prince George would be getting his book as a memento when his parents visit Cambridge next weekend.

A Lorde figurine performing atop three circular cakes to depict The Lord of the Rings was among creative entries for a Canterbury edible story-telling competition.

Nicky Pellegrino is a novelist and former magazine editor who moved to New Zealand for love.

David Larsen discovers the intriguing backstory behind cartoonist Michael Leunig’s whimsical birds

I had to buy a book recently. It hurt. Much as I love books, my financially sensible self would rather get them from the library or stock up on a few good novels at the school fair at $2 to $3 each.