Cloe Willetts is a Wellington based journalist, known for getting the very best out of an interview thanks to her empathetic flair, laid back style, and solid nose for news.

Cloe has tackled a multitude of topics over the past eleven years as an award-winning journalist, from breaking news and social issues to human-interest, parenting and wellness, and lifestyle and travel.

After receiving Community Junior Journalist of the Year as a community newspaper reporter in 2017, Cloe went on to win Best Lifestyle Journalist at the Magazine Publishers Association Awards in 2019.

Cloe Willetts wrote and released her first picture book, The Dizzy Waggle Who Lit the Dark: a glowing tale about the power of big feelings, in late 2021 (illustrated by Fabienne Joni Sopacua of FJS-Art & Design).

Inspired by her own experiences as a sensitive child who experienced anxiety, Cloe’s first book secured national media coverage and became a hit with children, parents, teachers, librarians, and health professionals.

Teaching children resilience and tools for emotional regulation, the book unpacks a variety of emotions and explains how they feel in the body, while highlighting the power of authenticity and empathy.

Cloe and Fabienne’s second book in the Dizzy Waggles series Thea and the Dizzy Waggle: a heartwarming tale about loss and grief, was released in 2022 and also received national media coverage on television, which covered the true story behind the book.

It quickly found its way into homes, schools, funeral homes, hospices, charitable organisations, and health practices in New Zealand and abroad.

Written with sensitivity and hope, Thea and the Dizzy Waggle, is now making its way into primary schools around Aotearoa.

The latest book in the series Lulu and the Forest Troll: an inspiring tale about bullying and self-love teaches children the reasons someone might bully and the deeper feelings behind their behaviour.

The imaginative story explores self-acceptance, forgiveness, and empathy and is also being distributed to primary schools across New Zealand this year.

In early 2023, Cloe received her first lot of funding support from KCDC’s Creative Communities Scheme to run a children’s Creative and Life Writing Workshop on the Kapiti Coast, Wellington.

The 10-week course ran after school for aspiring writers aged 8-12 and focused on creative short story writing, self-expression through literacy, and journaling using prompts.

Offering a warm, welcoming, inclusive, and fun environment, the EQ Storytelling Creative and Life Writing Workshop concluded with a public exhibition of the children’s final work at Paraparaumu Library.

This included a launch evening for family and friends, which was designed to boost students’ confidence and celebrate their hard work.

The EQ Storytelling workshop is now in its fifth term and teaches students creative language techniques for more descriptive writing, skills around character building, plot planning and structure, and techniques for thinking outside the box to write with authenticity.

Cloe also facilitates group workshops and helps aspiring writers with mentorship around self-publishing.

Cloe offers business storytelling services to help brands and entrepreneurs pinpoint their story, strategise their message, and share it across print and digital media channels.