Fireside Session with Sara Litchfield
Trading a life of certainty for one of creativity & adventure.
After the energy and buzz of our very first Fireside Session (sold out!!), I’m thrilled to share that we’re doing it again in Te Anau — this time with the brilliant and inspiring Sara Litchfield.
If you love meaningful stories, big questions, and connecting with others in the community, this evening is for you.
I first met Sara thanks to our mutual friend (and our inaugural Fireside guest), Dulkara Martig. Over coffee one day Dulkara said, “You should meet Sara. She’s a writer.” That was all the introduction needed.
A few DMs later, Sara and I found ourselves sitting down for a cuppa that stretched into a two-hour conversation. I walked away thinking: who is this woman?! (in the best possible way).
That’s what I love about Fiordland — you never know who you’ll cross paths with. People here carry these incredible stories and achievements, but they turn up in puffer jackets and flip flops, humble as ever. Sara is one of those people.
There is a massive pre-Fiordland era of Sara that I know very little about and can't wait to hear more. Here it is in a nutshell:
After growing up in a concrete jungle in the UK and studying Theology at the University of Cambridge, Sara found herself on a well-trodden path towards a career in the city, working in Finance for one of the Big Four accountancy firms in London.
Leaving this behind to embrace a life of art and adventure, she moved to Aotearoa New Zealand in 2012 and became a writer, editor, and photographer, making a home in Te Anau in 2017 and discovering the joy to be found in the world’s wild places.
And in case you don’t believe what I say about Fiordland folks keeping it casual, here are some highlights that prove she is a living, breathing creative force:
Completing a Master’s in Creative Writing at the University of Cambridge with a focus on eco-literature and nature writing across genres, while working as a book editor and then nature guide in Fiordland.
Being shortlisted for the Sargeson Prize and Oxford Flash Fiction Prize.
Receiving a place on the NZSA Te Puni Kaituhi O Aotearoa Mentorship Programme to work on her fiction with acclaimed author Catherine Chidgey.
Publication in a range of anthologies, newspapers, magazines, and journals, including Newsroom, The Cambridge Review of Books, and 1964 Mountain Culture Journal.
A thirteen-year career ghostwriting and editing books for authors and publishers across the globe, including the likes of Penguin Random House UK.
Involvement in reading and writing events, in association with the Fiordland Creative Writing Collective, the Queenstown Writers Festival, and the New Zealand Society of Authors.
On top of all this she loves nothing more than a frolic in the mountains, so you can bet our conversation will have a hearty dose of outdoor adventure too!
Join us for this Fireside Session with Sara Litchfield on Tuesday 9 September at the Lakefront Café, Te Anau.
You’re part of the conversation too.
When you register, you’ll have the opportunity to submit your question for Sara ahead of time. We’ll also open the floor for a relaxed live Q&A at the end—no question too small, too silly, or too out there.
To learn more, grab your ticket and submit your question, hit the button below. We’d love to see you there!