Picture a New Zealand storyteller who spun a tale so sultry and sinister it took the literary world by storm—meet Annaleese Jochems! Born in 1994 in Whangārei, this award-winning novelist burst onto the scene with her debut novel Baby, a provocative story that’s as unforgettable as it is unsettling. With a knack for crafting complex characters and morally ambiguous situations, Jochems is quickly becoming a standout voice in contemporary fiction.
At just 23, Jochems nabbed prestigious accolades like the Adam Foundation Prize and the Hubert Church Best First Book Award, proving she’s a force to be reckoned with. Her work, laced with dark humor and raw intensity, captures the messy beauty of human desires and societal fringes. Ready to dive into her world? Let’s explore the life, works, and impact of this rising star.
The Making of Annaleese Jochems
Growing up on a farm in Northland’s Pakaraka, between Kawakawa and Kaikohe, Annaleese Jochems was surrounded by wide-open spaces and a family of beef farmers and teachers. She decided at 14 that writing was her calling, a spark that led her to study creative writing at the Manukau Institute of Technology in Auckland. There, she felt empowered to take risks and hone her craft, never once discouraged. In 2016, she leveled up with a Master of Arts in Creative Writing from the International Institute of Modern Letters at Victoria University, where her draft manuscript for Baby won the Adam Foundation Prize.
Her rural roots and urban adventures in Auckland shaped her unique perspective, blending gritty realism with a playful edge. Jochems’s early influences, from reality TV to literary giants, fueled her desire to subvert stereotypes and explore the absurdities of modern life.
Annaleese Jochems’s Unforgettable Stories
Jochems’s debut novel, Baby (2017), is a wild ride that follows Cynthia, a jobless, narcissistic 21-year-old who steals her father’s money and flees with her fitness instructor Anahera to a boat named Baby. Described by Eleanor Catton as “sultry, sinister, hilarious, and demented,” the novel flips gender dynamics and dives into obsession and powerlessness. Inspired by critiques of Fifty Shades of Grey, Jochems crafted a chilling, modern fable that earned a nomination for the Acorn Fiction Award and the Hubert Church Best First Book Award at the 2018 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards.
Her upcoming novel, Loving Him, set to release in 2025, promises more of her signature intensity. Described as a “rape fantasy in Northland” exploring self-destruction and dark forces, it’s already generating buzz for its bold themes. Jochems’s style—raw, urgent, and unapologetic—blends dark comedy with psychological depth, making her characters linger in readers’ minds long after the final page.
Beyond novels, Jochems has published short works in outlets like Sweet Mammalian, Turbine, and Pantograph Punch, showcasing her versatility. Her ability to weave bizarre yet relatable narratives sets her apart in New Zealand’s literary scene, earning praise from critics like The Guardian, who called Cynthia a “memorable addition to unapologetic antiheroines.”
Why Annaleese Jochems Matters
Annaleese Jochems is redefining New Zealand fiction with her fearless exploration of taboo topics and complex women. Her work resonates with readers who crave stories that challenge norms and embrace the messy, human side of life. By tackling themes like power, desire, and societal exclusion, she’s carving a space for bold, boundary-pushing narratives in contemporary literature.
Her international success, with Baby published in the UK and US by Scribe and film rights snapped up by Wild Card Films, signals her growing global influence. At just 30, Jochems is poised to shape the future of fiction, inspiring a new generation of writers to take risks and tell stories that matter.
- Born: 1994, Whangārei, New Zealand
- Key Work: Baby (2017)
- Awards: 2016 Adam Foundation Prize, 2018 Hubert Church Best First Book Award
- Fun Fact: She co-owns Book Hound, a secondhand bookshop in Newtown with her mother.
Snag Baby and dive into Annaleese Jochems’s thrilling, unapologetic world of fiction! Trust us, you won’t look at reality TV—or boats—the same way again.