Page & Blackmore Readers & Writers
brings writers to the Nelson Arts Festival in talks and discussions that
illuminate their work and our lives.
Saturday 16th 2pm
ALISON WONG
Author of As the Earth Turns Silver.
Winner of the New Zealand Post Book Awards Fiction prize, 2010.
This first novel follows the stories of two very different people struggling with daily life in early twentieth-century Wellington. Chung Yung is working in his older brother’s greengrocery to support his family back in China. Katherine McKechnie is struggling to raise two children after the death of her brutish husband. Against the backdrop of World War I, the story of their forbidden love is both tragic and uplifting.
Alison Wong grew up in Hawkes Bay, has lived in China and Wellington and now lives in Geelong.
She has won awards for poetry and fiction and wide acclaim for this, her first novel.
Sunday 17th 11am
CRAIG SMITH
Author & creator of The Wonky Donkey.
Winner of The NZ Post 2010 Children’s Choice Book Award
Bring the kids along for a story, a sing and some general hilarity. Wonky Donkey has shot to hanky-panky stinky-dinky fame and Craig Smith is now in demand around the country with his guitar and his songs for ‘the the less mature’.
Sunday 17th 2pm
JANICE MARRIOTT & VIRGINIA PAWSEY
Two Gisborne friends rekindled their friendship through their shared love of gardening, publishing their letters as Common Ground. Now, in Common Table, their wise, witty and human letters trace their lives through the seasons of their very different kitchens – Janice the author in her Wellington cottage and Virginia in the busy kitchen at Double Tops, her family's farm in North Canterbury.PECHA KUCHA
The Literary Edition - SOLD OUT
Wednesday 20th 6:30pm
DAVID MCPHAIL
His recently released memoir is The Years Before My Death: Memories of a Comic Life
Renowned actor-director and comedy writer David McPhail recounts his early life, what made him want to make us laugh and what led him to pioneer the satirical TV programmes A Week of It and McPhail and Gadsby that made him famous. Hear about his friendships with other comedians and his encounters with the likes of Rob Muldoon and Dudley Moore. Anecdotes told with insight, perfect timing and a glint in the eye.
Thursday 21st 12:30pm @The Suter Theatre
CHRIS B0URKE
Author of Blue Smoke, chronicling half a century of New Zealand music.
Writer, journalist, editor, music historian and radio producer Chris Bourke recovers the lost dawn of New Zealand popular music and brings to life the times when we bought sheet music from Beggs, listened to the radio, learnt ‘the twist’, sang in choirs and jived to Johnny Devlin). From return of the Kiwi Concert Parties from WWI and the arrival of jazz, Blue Smoke also chronicles half a century of change – the rise of swing, country, the Hawaiian sound, and then rock’n’roll, to the development of a local recording industry, and the impact of tours by overseas stars.
Thursday 21st 6:30pm
SOMETHING SO STRONG
Kiwi music panel chaired by Katrina Smith, with Chris Bourke, Grant Smithies, Nick Bollinger and Ian Chapman
New Zealand music - what puts the kiwi flavour into it? How has it shaped our lives, or have our lives shaped it? Chaired by Katrina Smith a panel of top music writers will take a wise and witty stroll through our social history - as it was sung.
Chris Bourke’s book Blue Smoke has just been published, Nick Bollinger writes for the Listener, presents The Sampler on Radio NZ and recently published 100 Essential New Zealand Albums; Ian Chapman wrote Glory Days about the 70s has just published Kiwi Rock Chicks; and Sunday Star-Times music critic Grant Smithies is the author of Soundtrack.
Friday 22nd 5pm
PETER BUTLER
BOOK LAUNCH of Gravel Roads.
Nelson writer Peter Butler’s first novel reveals the unpretentious inhabitants of the Ails Valley, their lives overlapping and intertwining through decades. The spotlight is on the psychological landscape of rural New Zealand in the raw - it isn’t always pretty but is always authentic. Peter Butler has lived in Nelson and Golden Bay most of his life.
Maurice Gee will launch Gravel Roads
Saturday 23rd 2pm - C K STEAD
Join renowned writer Karl Stead.
South-West of Eden : A memoir 1932-1956.
Renowned writer Karl Stead speaks honestly and amusingly about his early years growing up in sight of Mt Eden in a memoir that includes his family life, early political activism and his friendships with Allen Curnow and Frank Sargeson.
C K Stead has published many books of poetry, novels, short stories and criticism. He is a Professor Emeritus of The University of Auckland, where he taught English before retiring in 1986 to write full time. He has won a variety of literary prizes, most recently Britain's Sunday Times Short Story Competition, and holds our highest honour, the Order of New Zealand.
Sunday 24 10:30am
THE THINKING BRUNCH
The ever-popular brunch discussion, chaired by Te Radar with
C K Stead, Matt Lawrey, Kip Chapman and Rosemary McLeod.
One of the Festival’s most popular events, Sunday morning brunch that gives you more than a croissant to chew over. This year’s panel will get its teeth into topic of the day – the state of the arts in New Zealand. Can we be said to have a unique culture…and if so how will it fare as the global future is tweeted in 140 characters?
Monday 25th 12:30pm @ Woollaston Estates
ELIZABETH SMITHER
Woollaston poetry in the vineyard.
Tickets available from Everyman Records 03 548 3083 or http://www.nelsonartsfestival.co.nz/
(ALL SESSIONS AT THE GRANARY FESTIVAL CAFE UNLESS OTHERWISE STATED)
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