PAULA MORRIS SHORT STORY COLLECTION LAUNCH BRINGS OUT THE AUTHORS

At a jolly, crowded party at Unity Books Auckland the other night Paula Morris' new short story collection from Penguin, FORBIDDEN CITIES, saw a great collection of writers joining in the celebration.

Among those I noticed were : Emily Perkins, Gordon McLauchlan, Charlotte Grimshaw, John Cranna, Richard Wolfe, Sue Reidy, Sarah Laing, Cam Stokes (who has just published his first novel, The Devils Are Here: he was in Paula's class at high school!); Steve Braunias, and Witi Ihimaera. Sandra Coney was there as well. Also a decent artist contingent, too – Karl Maughan, Pamela Wolfe, Sarah Smuts-Kennedy – plus the architect Graham Burgess who oversaw restoration of the Colin McCahon House in Titirangi.

Pic left shows the author of the hour flanked by publisher Geoff Walker and author/columnist Steve Braunias whose thoughtful launch address was a highlight.