The creative thesis Powdered Milk weaves a Gothic rural psychological story, set in Otago in southern New Zealand. It explores complex individual histories and a burgeoning relationship in an interwoven tandem narrative with duel protagonists, Delia and Luke. In four parts, following the seasons, the isolated environment and the nuances of the weather affect the characters? lives and moods. The novel, infused with foreboding, explores how human relationships can easily go awry.

The exegesis to follow frames the novel, and investigates my motivation behind the creative work, namely to reflect on the prevalent theme of isolation in New Zealand literature; how my creative work utilises this and hence fits within the arc of isolated New Zealand Gothic fiction. A key theme in Powdered Milk is pursuit of freedom, and how difficult it can be to seek, even within an isolated and seemingly idyllic environment. The creative thesis is placed at the beginning, as I feel that to read the exegesis first might give away plot points. As is the objective though for the pair to speak together the order of reading is personal preference. {Note: The novel, Powdered Milk, will only be available after the 16 February 2019)