Marina was born in 1969 to a Dutch father and a New Zealand mother, beginning her life in Sydney, Australia. For her father, Australia was an adopted homeland shaped by displacement and trauma. In 1970, her family settled in New Zealand, where Marina was raised in Wellington and on the Kapiti Coast. From an early age, she was aware her family’s past held stories not fully told, threads of experience shaped by war, migration, and resilience.

Her academic journey took her south, studying at both the University of Otago and the University of Canterbury. Drawn to psychology, Marina sought not only to understand people, but to make sense of the deeper currents within her own family story. After graduating, she met and married a sheep farmer, moving to the Hurunui region where they raised their three children. Life there grounded her in a different kind of rhythm, one shaped by land, seasons, and community, while the questions of her heritage remained close.

By profession, Marina is the Director of a professional coaching organisation, working in the field of human development and connection. She has long been drawn to writing, particularly stories exploring identity, belonging, and the echoes of history in the present day.

The Golden Lotus Necklace is her first work of historical fiction, inspired by her family’s experiences and a deeply personal journey to uncover the past. Through her writing, Marina brings to life the intersection of war, love, and family, revealing how the stories we inherit continue to shape who we become. Golden Lotus Necklace is the first book in a trilogy spanning three generations, and three continents. 

Listen to this podcast interview between the author Marina de Vries and Moira Murphy on the writing of The Golden Lotus Necklace. Click here to open the podcast