Words have always held power for writers. With chair Stephanie Frewen, authors Becky Manawatu (Kāi Tahu, Ngāti Mamoe, Waitaha) and Michael Bennett (Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāti Whakaue) discuss the (big) joys and (big!) challenges of writing life, and how their international hits: Auē and Better The Blood and their new novels, Kataraina and Return to Blood use kupu to confront trauma that goes deeper than the fictional narratives they write.