FINDING HER PLACE IN WORDS

For as long as she can remember, local author Jasmine Donaldson has been creating stories – a lifelong love that has now led to the release of her debut novel, The People I Know Now.

Jasmine moved to New Zealand as a child and has called the Matakana area home ever since. She’s always loved the beaches, the creative community, and the sense of belonging that comes with small-town life. A former student of Matakana Primary and Mahurangi College, Jasmine knew early on that she wanted to do something creative but wasn’t sure in what form.

After school, she explored a range of interests, studying makeup artistry, animal care, and personal training, while working at local favourites like Matakana Cinemas and Morris & James. Her love of storytelling never left her, and in 2023, while working part-time, Jasmine finally took on the long-held goal of completing a novel.

She knew she wanted to write a young adult book, inspired by her own difficulty finding novels she enjoyed as a teenager. After a short story she wrote received an encouraging mention in a competition, Jasmine gained the confidence to complete her novel and pursue publication.

Drawing from her own experience searching for direction after leaving school, The People I Know Now is a contemporary young adult novel about love, loss, and finding the courage to move forward. With settings inspired by the local area and strong, relatable characters, the story reflects the importance of finding one’s people, one’s place, and one’s purpose.

Jasmine was thrilled when her book was accepted by family-run, independent, New Zealand publisher Mary Egan Publishing. It was printed in New Zealand and released in October 2025.

Now a full-time Library Assistant, she spends her days surrounded by stories, continuing to read, write, and plan her next book – hoping her journey will inspire young people to pick up a book or even write their own.

www.jasminedonaldsonauthor.com | www.instagram.com/yabooksbyjaz