Barbara Anderson was born in Hastings, NZ and graduated B.Sc. Otago University (1947) and BA Victoria University of Wellington (1984). In August 2009 she was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Literature from the University of Otago in recognition of her outstanding contribution to New Zealand literature. She has worked as a medical technologist and teacher in Hawkes Bay and Wellington. In 1983 she attended Bill Manhire's creative writing course at Victoria University of Wellington. Her autobiography Getting There was published in November 2008 and Kate de Goldi called it the best New Zealand autobiography since Janet Frame's. She is however best known as a novelist and short story writer. Her latest novel is Change of Heart (VUP 2003). The Swing Around was published in November 2001 and was nominated for the 2003 International IMPAC Dublin Literary Award. Her short stories have been published in many magazines including Metro, Landfall, London Magazine, Sport and the Listener. Barbara has also written for the stage. One of her unpublished plays won the J.C. Reid award in 1985 and several have been broadcast.In 1991 Barbara was Writing Fellow at Victoria University of Wellington. Her first collection of short stories, I think we should go into the jungle was shortlisted for the Wattie Award in 1989 and the 1990 New Zealand Book Award for Fiction. Portrait of the Artist's Wife won the Wattie Award in 1992 and has been reprinted 6 times, most recently in October 2002 with a beautiful new cover by award-winning designer Sarah Maxey. In November 2005 Barbara's Collected Stories were published. This collects work previously published in I think we should go into the jungle and The Peacocks and also some unpublished stories. Barbara Anderson is among New Zealand's most respected and best-selling authors. All her books have been published and well received in the UK.