Interview: JM Laird talks about Miss Bumby's Mission

JM Laird is a New Zealand hobbyist beekeeper with a passion for planting native trees. She’s a bit of a hippy; growing her own food, generating electricity and collecting rainwater. Miss Bumby's Mission was written as part of her Master of Creative Writing thesis, and she has written two previous novels as Josie Laird.

Her previous degree was a BSc in Botany, Microbiology and Genetics, and she has worked in science-related fields including medical publishing. Josie talks to NZ Booklovers.

Tell us a little about Miss Bumby’s Mission.

It’s the story of NZ’s first beekeeper, Mary Bumby, who came from England with two hives of bees. After an eventful six-month voyage, she arrived a year before the Treaty was signed.

What inspired you to write this book?

After I heard about her, I kept wondering how and why she achieved this. And as a beekeeper myself, I felt I could do justice to the bees in the story.

What research was involved?

Plenty! Trips to the Hokianga (where she lived) and her hometown of Thirsk in England. Lots of reading of missionaries’ letters, books and Mary’s diary! And learning how to make a skep, that upside-down basket they kept bees in.

What was your routine or process when writing this book?

I wrote it in bursts, after reading the relevant accounts. So I would write about the voyage, and then end up with questions I had to investigate, such as what were the names of the children on board.

If a soundtrack was made to accompany this book, name a song or two you would include.

I did make a song list for my book launch! Included are Honey to the Bee by Billie Piper and Rock the Boat by Aaliyah.

If your book was made into a movie, who would you like to see playing the lead characters?

Mary would be played by Florence Pugh. She was an English Rose type. Her brother John would be played by Joe Alwyn, while her love interest (yes, there is one) would be Tom Holland.

What did you enjoy the most about writing this novel?

Learning about a totally different world. The people, the events, the way of life.

What did you do to celebrate finishing Miss Bumby’s Mission?

I put on my beesuit and went out to tell my bees.

What is the favourite book you have read so far this year and why?

Feijoa by Kate Evans. Like me, she spent years researching her subject and her passion really shows through. You wouldn’t think there would be so much to write about feijoas, delicious as they are.

What’s next on the agenda for you?

During my research I came across a story about the first bumblebees introduced to New Zealand. There’s something pulling me towards this.