Politician to publisher DEBORAH'S TALES COULD FILL A BOOK

Deborah Coddington took the 10-day trial version of retirement and found that aimlessly rearranging the furniture wasn't for her.
So at 70, with a life that's revolved around words, the award-winning journalist, author and former Act MP decided she needed a new challenge for her creative spirit.
Deborah's recently set up a small niche publishing company called Ugly Hill Press - named for the country road she grew up on in Hawke's Bay in a move that's more about coming full circle than it is starting a new chapter.
After selling The Martinborough Bookshop (the first to open in the historical Wairarapa town), she has returned to publishing after working in the industry in the 1980s, and now wants to produce books about New Zealand landscapes, people and places where they work.
Peering from her laptop on a Zoom call with the Weekly, Deborah is makeup-free, wearing round black spectacles and hands clasped in finger less woollen gloves. ("No one would recognise me from what you're looking at now to what you see in the photos!")
She muses that her restless energy has never left her in peace.
"I sold the bookshop, where I worked seven days a week, and I was going to retire," she tells. "After about 10 days of wandering around the house, I thought, 'I just can't do retirement. I've got to have a project.'
"In the background, I did have plans for a coffee-table book on 35 independent bookstores of New Zealand with photos by Jane Ussher.
"I pitched it to another publisher, who wasn't incredibly keen on it. So I thought, 'I got a good price for the bookshop - I should probably put my own money into this and realise my own visions of what sort of books I want to publish.'
"But launching a publishing company is much scarier than opening a bookshop. You're spending all this money and not getting any of it back until the books go on sale."
Esta historia es de la edición September 04, 2023 de New Zealand Woman's Weekly.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición September 04, 2023 de New Zealand Woman's Weekly.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar

Soul sisters Sonia & Jaquie 'WE'VE BEEN THROUGH A LOT'
The TV hosts share their journey through anxiety and personal loss

Harry & Meghan's future shock 'WHAT WE WANT FOR OUR KIDS'
The Sussexes reveal their big royal plans for Archie and Lilibet

Cracking the COMBINATION
Jeremy has a lock-y break when it comes to dealing with a safe

A day in the life of MICHELLE ANG
She's an actor, director, producer and chases cars!
Settling an OLD SCORE
Kerre boarded the Blues Bus with a tingly feeling and a prediction

It started with WITH A KISS,
Kevin gets loose-lipped and shares the origin story of life with Linda

Life after BETRAYAL
Broken trust can take on many forms, but there's always one common denominator – a feeling of hurt that can last for decades

Calling time ON A FRIENDSHIP
It's never easy to pull the plug on a long-term connection but sometimes it's necessary for your own sake

Dame Malvina Major 'WHAT KEEPS ME YOUNG AT HEART'
The beloved Kiwi soprano has faced challenges with anxiety, but has never

A right royal BENDER!
Wills and Sophie got into the spirit