THE NZ BOOK COUNCIL AND MARLBOROUGH BOOK FESTIVAL BRING WORDS ON WHEELS 2016 TO MARLBOROUGH THIS WEEK

We are excited to partner with the Marlborough Book Festival Trust to bring our Words on Wheels (WoW) writers’ tour to Marlborough this week.

WoW takes some of our finest writers and illustrators on a week-long road trip, providing rural communities with the opportunity to engage with New Zealand authors and illustrators. We ensure events are free or low-cost to encourage greater access for locals.

Five leading New Zealand writers and illustrators: Barbara DeLeo, Charlotte Grimshaw,Greg McGee, Gavin Bishop and Donovan Bixley are taking part in WoW 2016.

Donovan and Gavin are throwing themselves into a hectic schedule of daily workshops, readings and talks in schools and libraries in Blenheim, Tuamarina, Rapaura, and Rai Valley.

Donovan also gave a lively session yesterday at the Marlborough District Library on the Life of Shakespeare, and both he and Gavin will be at the Millennium Public Art Gallery at 5pm today to give a  preview of the "Painted Stories" exhibition for teachers and librarians.

On Thursday, Donovan and Gavin will be joined by Charlotte and Greg to take part in a "Speed Date an Author" event at Marlborough Girls College. The authors and illustrators will be delivering fast-paced sessions, 25 minutes long, to four rotating groups of students, followed by a prize-giving. The sessions are intended to develop the skills of the young writers, and to encourage them to find their unique voice.

The school sessions are not open to the public, but a special pre-festival live story telling event is. Barbara DeLeo will join Donovan, Gavin, Charlotte and Greg for True Stories Told Live, which will be held at the Boathouse Theatre at 7pm on Wednesday 27 July.