WORD Christchurch Writers & Readers Festival

WINTER UNDERWAY - JUNE EVENTS There are plenty of activities to keep you warm over the cold winter days and nights. Take a workshop, celebrate science fiction and fantasy, listen to flash fiction readings or attend an exhibition and book launch. And keep an eye out for our next newsletter, where we will announce the exciting WORD Christchurch line-up for the Christchurch Arts Festival in August and September.

KIDSFEST       WORD Christchurch is proud to present four creative workshops for kids aged 8-13 during KidsFest this July: The Magic of Words: a fun poetry workshop with Doc Drumheller from the Christchurch School for Young Writers. More Choose Your Own Adventure: a story-writing workshop with children’s author (Red Rocks) and WORD Christchurch Literary Director Rachael King.More Creating Comics: Who’s the Star? A comic-making workshop with author and cartoonist Sarah Laing focusing on inventing characters. More Creating Comics: Your Wonderful World:  a comic-making workshop with author and cartoonist Sarah Laing focusing on world-building and setting. More NEIL PARDINGTON: THE ORDER OF THINGS EXHIBITION OPENING & BOOK LAUNCH   Friday 5 June, 5.30pm  Jonathan Smart Gallery 52 Buchan Street, Sydenham, Christchurch Neil Pardington: The Order of Things is the first digital publication produced by Baker+Douglas, a New Zealand based company specialising in the publication of photography books. A digital copy of the book shown on tablets in the gallery will be available later in June for Apple and Android. You will be able to purchase the book via a free Baker+Douglas app available on iTunes or through the bakerdouglas.co.nz website.

SIR JULIUS VOGEL AWARDS CELEBRATION With many New Zealand literary awards falling away due to lack of sponsorship, it is more important than ever that the writing community takes the initiative in recognising success. SpecFicNZ Christchurch invite you to join them in celebrating Sir Julius Vogel Awards 2015 winners AJ Fitzwater (Best New Talent) and Rebecca Fisher (Best Fan Writer), and finalists Tim Stead and Shelley Chappell,  with a keynote address by multi-award winning, internationally acclaimed author, Helen Lowe.   Saturday June 13 1.30 pm for a 2pm start Fendalton Library RSVPs are necessary for catering purposes. RSVPs and any inquiries should be directed to sjveventchch@gmail.com FLASH IN THE PAN To celebrate National Flash Fiction Day, come along to a free literary event hosted by Morrin Rout. Judge Owen Marshall will announce the National Flash Fiction Day competition winners and read from his own work along with a variety of flash fiction authors, including Frankie McMillan, Rachael King, James Norcliffe, Ciaran Fox, Doc Drumheller, Fiona Farrell, Jeffrey Paparoa Holman and more. More information here:  22 June 6-8pm The Twisted Hop 616 Ferry Rd, Woolston MORE WORKSHOPS Two winter poetry workshops with poet Joanna Preston, to keep the creative juices flowing as the frost settles! Poetry 101: Introduction to Writing Poetry Saturdays, 20 June to 18 July Unusual Forms A workshop looking at some of the more strange, weird and wonderful types of formal poetry. Saturdays, 8 August to 5 September  For more information go here:   DAVID WALLIAMS COMPETITION WINNERS Congratulations to Merrin School which won the school competition for a signed and dedicated set of David Walliams books. Pictured here are school librarian Amanda Simpson and a team of hungry readers.         KEEP WARM EVERYONE