Globally-celebrated British author of Alex Rider fame, Anthony
Horowitz, award-winning US young adult novelist Laurie Halse Anderson, best-selling
Australian writer and national treasure Morris Gleitzman, internationally-acclaimed
NZ singer/songwriter Hollie Fullbrook (aka TINY RUINS),
multi-award winning NZ young adult author Bernard Beckett and leading
light of local spoken word poetry Grace Taylor are among the stellar
line-up of writers taking part in the Auckland Writers Festival Schools’
Programme, on May 13th and 14th this year at the Aotea
Centre.
Now in its seventh year, the schools’ programme sees
students from all over Auckland filling the Centre’s auditorium to capacity to
hear some of the world’s biggest children’s and teenage literary stars.
Auckland Writers Festival
associate director Eleanor Congreve developed this year’s schools programme and
says she hopes it demonstrates the festival’s unswerving commitment to
inspiring young writers and readers.
“The Festival is delighted to
offer two exciting days of presentations, workshops and discussions by leading
local and international youth writers. Encouraging a life-long love of reading
by introducing writers to young readers is an important part of the Festival’s
mission,” says Ms Congreve.
The 2015 schools’ programme is made possible due to a
generous donation from The Freemasons Foundation. Festival director Anne
O’Brien says the partnership is a great fit.
“I am delighted to welcome The Freemasons Foundation into
our partnership stable. Their generous support demonstrates the organisation’s
active and ongoing work for the benefit of young people,” says Ms
O’Brien.
David Mace,
Chairman of the Freemasons Foundation says The Freemasons are privileged
to be partnering the Auckland Writers Festival Schools Programme and Family Day
for 2015.
“The work of the Freemasons Foundation is focused wherever we can see a
direct and lasting benefit to the community – from cutting edge Medical
Research in association with the University of Auckland, the Emerging and
Resident Artists of NZ Opera, and now to supporting young, emerging writing
talent,” says Mr Mace.
Anthony Horowitz’s
not-so-secret mission is to pass on the joy of reading to others. This master
storyteller joins us for a lively discussion about why he’s inspired by James
Bond, the role of fantasy and suspense in his stories and how it’s possible to
go from disliking school to a writing career that spans books, films and
television.
Morris
Gleitzman will lead a lively
session during which he will tell us what happens when he meets a character in
his imagination and how he draws inspiration from their bravery, wit, silliness
and smarts.
Students will be blown away by Laurie
Halse Anderson’s humour and honesty in her spirited session called ‘The
Impossible Knife of Memory’.
The
driving force behind the Rising Voices Youth Poetry Movement and a founder of
the South Auckland Poets Collective, Grace Taylor will inspire students
with poetry and performance.
Hollie Fullbrook (aka
Tiny Ruins) joins us during a brief break from recording and touring to
share some of her music live and to talk about the craft of song-writing.
Master of the experimental
novel, Bernard Beckett hopes that his session will get ‘sort of rowdy’!
Join him for a debate that will challenge and inspire.
Other
schools’ programme featured writers are British stand-up comedian,
classicist and novelist Natalie Haynes; NZ Post Book Awards finalist Philippa
Werry; author of a stunning sci-fi debut Rachael Craw; award-winning
designer and cult comics creator Ant Sang; teacher, animator and graphic
artist Zak Waipara and playwright and novelist Whiti Hereaka.
Tickets – which are only open
for purchase via schools - are now available. The events - which cater
for students from Year 5 to Year 13 - have sold out in previous years, so
schools are encouraged to book early.
For a full schools’ programme
please go to www.writersfestival.co.nz. To make enquiries, email schools@writersfestival.co.nz and for bookings go to groups@ticketmaster.co.nz or call Ticketmaster on 09 970 9745.
Day attendance (entry to four sessions) is just $12 per
student and must be booked through schools. Workshops, which offer highly
motivated students a rare opportunity to learn from, and be inspired by,
leading writers, are $15 per workshop per student. Schools needing financial
transport assistance can apply to the Festival’s Transport Fund.
The Auckland Writers Festival
Schools’ Programme is made possible with the generous support of its Gold
Partner: The Freemasons Foundation, Grant Partners: ASB Community Trust and
Creative New Zealand and Donor Partners: Penguin Random House New Zealand,
Walker Books and Warwick.
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