Noted Australian author John Marsden to visit Christchurch in support of quake stricken city

Sydney, July, 2011: Best selling Australian author John Marsden is to visit Christchurch early next month in support of the disaster struck city.

The author, best known for his famed Tomorrow When The War Began series will conduct a number of in school writing workshops at selected high schools around Canterbury and also speak to a public audience at the Knox Church hall on Wednesday August 10.

Marsden’s NZ publicist Jane Symmans said the author was quick to offer his support to the city with which he has shared a long tenured and much enjoyed relationship. With gratitude the city has welcomed this generous gift and rare opportunity.

Marsden said “It's no secret that I love New Zealand and have the greatest respect for New Zealanders. In particular, I've been a great fan of the Christchurch public library, and the work they do for young readers, for many years. I've also been privileged to enjoy the hospitality of Margaret Mahy in Christchurch on a number of occasions. When the earthquakes hit, I felt, like many people, desperate to do something meaningful to show my support for my Canterbury friends. The one thing I do best is talking about writing and teaching writing skills, so I thought that it was the most useful way I could offer my services. I'm actually not interested though in getting kids to write anything specifically about the earthquakes. What I want to do is provide students with an experience that will give them something new to think about, and help energise them in a different and entirely positive way. As a bonus, I hope I can help enhance their understanding of language as a powerful medium of communication for feelings, thoughts, plans and opinions.”

Michele Ayres the Aoraki representative for SLANZA and librarian at Christchurch Girls’ High School who has been coordinating the tour with the assistance of John’s publisher, Macmillan Publishers said “John Marsden is an inspirational author and educator, and he brings a wealth of experience
and much needed hope to the kids, parents, and teachers of
Christchurch. His own reflections about starting from scratch will be invaluable. His school Candlebark broke new ground, and that's exactly what Christchurch needs to do. John is just the kind of person that we need right now: innovative, compassionate, and widely respected.”

Marsden has sold around five million books in Australia and overseas, and has many national and international awards to his credit, including the Buxtheder Bulle, awarded in Germany for the best teenage novel published anywhere in the world over a two-year period.

John will also be making public appearances in Wellington at the Children’s Bookshop in Kilbirnie, and in Auckland at Central City Library. DEtails below.

An Evening with John Marsden

Location: Knox Church Hall: 28 Bealey Avenue, Christchurch

Time: 6.00pm, Wednesday 10 August

Admission: Free

Book signing with John Marsden

Location: The Children’s Bookshop: Shop 26 Kilbirnie Plaza, Wellington

Time: 4.00pm, Friday 12 August

Admission: Free

An Afternoon with John Marsden

Location: Central City Library, 44 Lorne Street, Auckland

Time: 2.00pm, Sunday 14 August

Admission: Free