Renée Hapimarika van de Weert, (Ngati te Whiti, Te Atiawa,) is a NZ Post finalist, Children's Picture Book of 2002 with The Last Whale and Te Tohora Whakamutunga, and author of her Speculative Fiction Series Reveille: Book I Resistance, Book II Revenge, Book III Redemption and, soon to be published, Book IV, Resolution. Renée believes none of life's challenges should go unmet; at the very least, they add fuel to her authorly fires. Jill of many trades including, in no particular order, hill country farmer, agricultural journalist, adult literacy and creative writing tutor, parliamentary electorate agent, veterinary assistant, laboratory technician, budget adviser, secretary, scrub cutter, tomato picker and kiwifruit packer, home help, Justice of the Peace (Ret), wife, mother, grandmother, Renée is now a full-time writer.