Christchurch writers get festive

1 September 2008

Getting between the covers is what’s on the cards for readers and writers alike this week at The Press Christchurch Writers Festival 2008.

From September 4 to 7, Christchurch City Libraries will be connecting readers to the South Island's biggest ever writers' festival with extensive online coverage, including reviews of events, daily festival round-ups and exclusive interviews with authors.

This year's Writers Festival will bring together the largest number of international and New Zealand writers ever to read, discuss, debate and entertain.

Christchurch City Libraries' Online Services Editor, Andy James, says the festival coverage is part of the library's ongoing commitment to encouraging maximum awareness and use of library resources.

“It's all about making connections between what's going on in the world around us, including events at the Writers Festival, with the library's tremendous resources, both on shelves and online.

Our team will be sharing their experiences of the Festival for those who can't be there themselves, and exchanging views with those who can. They'll also be recommending items for customers to borrow, and pointing people to useful resources that the library has available for customers all year round.”

The festival will include a mixture of events from young writers and song-writing workshops to readings from emerging authors from the Hagley Writers Institute; as well as readings from renowned authors such as Robert Fisk and other local poets; to chefs, book reviews and blogs. 

The library blog - blog.christchurchcitylibraries.com - will carry rolling coverage of events from the library's team on the ground, including comment, reviews and recommendations.

Other online festival information such as exclusive interviews and profiles of many of the writers taking part, as well as links to the festival programme and reading resources can be found at christchurchcitylibraries.com.

Christchurch City Libraries is also hosting and taking part in Festival events:

The child that books built

Francis Spufford discusses his memoir of a childhood as a compulsive reader in conversation with the library's former Children's Librarian, Bill Nagelkerke.

Francis’ other works include a cultural history of the British obsession with polar exploring, I May Be Some Time, and Backroom Boys, a portrait of de-industrialisation through the experience of engineers.

Thursday 4 September, 12pm, Central Library - Admission Free

Going places

Ben Hills, a well-known Australian investigative reporter, frequent writer on travel and lifestyle for newspapers and magazines, and an accredited restaurant judge.

Hear Ben in conversation with our Online Content Author, Richard Liddicoat.

Friday 5 September, 12pm, Central Library - Admission Free

Not another bloody blog!

Featuring our Online Content Author, Donna Robertson.

How can you sort egotistical wittering from the truly interesting and intellectually challenging? Three ardent bloggers defend their territory.

Sunday 7 September, 3pm, Christchurch Town Hall - Admission $15 / $13

The Press Christchurch Writers Festival is part of NZ Book Month which is being held at various city libraries and learning centres around the country throughout September.