David Hair is the New Zealand-based author of several fantasy series.
The Aotearoa Series is a YA series set in New Zealand, featuring: The Bone Tiki (winner of Best First Novel (Young Adult Fiction section) at the 2010 NZ Post Children's Book Awards), and five sequels The Taniwha's Tear, The Lost Tohunga, Justice and Utu, Ghosts of Parihaka, and Magic and Makutu.
The Return of Ravana is a YA series set in India. Pyre of Queens (winner of the LIANZA Young Adult book award in 2012), Swayamvara (internationally titled The Ghost Bride), Souls in Exile and King of Lanka have been released in India in 2011-12, and later in New Zealand and elsewhere. These were subsequently reissued in the UK with minor textual alterations as (1) The Pyre; (2) The Adversaries; (3) The Exile; and (4) The King.
A series for the adult fantasy market, The Moontide Quartet, commenced in 2012 with (1) Mage's Blood; (2) Scarlet Tides; (3) Unholy War; and (4) Ascendant's Rite. Subsequently a sequel series was released, The Sunsurge Quartet, set in the same world, the titles being (1) Empress of the Fall; (2) Prince of the Spear; (3) Hearts of Ice; and (4) Mother of Daemons.
During the period 2014-2018, Scholastic NZ asked five New Zealand writers to produce a book each to commemorate New Zealand's involvement in World War One, each book to be released 100 years after the events it narrated: the Kiwis At War series. David was asked to do the 1916 commemorative book, which was released in 2016. It was a historical fiction story entitled 1916: Dig for Victory, and told the story of the NZ Māori Pioneer Battalion, who fought at Armentieres and the Somme during 1916. Dig for Victory was a finalist for the NZ Children's and Young Persons' Book Awards in 2017.
David has also collaborated with fellow Kiwi author and mythology enthusiast Cath Mayo for The Olympus Trilogy, which tells of the early adventures of Odysseus, and is a prequel to the Trojan Wars. The titles are Athena's Champion, Oracle's War and Sacred Bride.
From 2020 David began work on a new fantasy/adventure trilogy; The Tethered Citadel, beginning with Book 1, Map's Edge. The subsequent titles (2) World's Edge and (3) Sorcerer's Edge were released in 2021 and 2022 respectively.
David's current project is Talmont, an environmentally-themed epic fantasy trilogy set in a dying world, being ruined by a damaging magical power that is propping up a tyrannical empire. The first book, The Burning World, was released in early 2024, and the following books, The Drowning Sea and The Falling Sky, will be released in 2025/2026.
Please go to the pages for these series to learn more!
A Word From David
I like to ground my writing in mythology and history, both of which I’ve studied at university, and read extensively on. I like to ‘walk the ground’ I’m writing about where possible, to provide as immersive a reading experience as possible. My professional career has given me a strong grounding in planning and deadlines which has been of great assistance. Travel is an important part of writing for me, and I have lived in India, Thailand and the UK, as well as travelling in South East Asia, Europe and America.
I’ve attended writing classes run by Frances Cherry and Chris Else respectively, which I found hugely helpful, and I’d recommend aspiring writers seek similar classes out.
Away from writing, I love football (proper round-ball 11-a-side footy) especially my lifelong support for Leeds United, plus movies, wine, travel, obscure music, and hanging out with Kerry and the kids. I mostly read biographies and histories now, as reading fantasy like I used to feels more like work than relaxation!