In 2016, Colleen returned to New Zealand after fifteen years in Tokyo and one in New York City to pursue her childhood dream of becoming an author. She began work on a collection of linked short stories, “Cherry Blossom Girl.” In 2017, Colleen received an Honourable Mention for the NZSA Lilian Ida Smith Award and the Surrey Hotel-Newsroom writers residency award in 2019. Colleen is a photographer and lives in Auckland with her Italian Greyhound, Ghost.