Auckland Writers Festival News

Featured in our August round-up... an evening with the hilarious Nigel Owens, our inspiring Women of Influence, the 2017 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards Judges and some special offers from our festival friends. AN EVENING WITH NIGEL OWENS We are pleased to present a special 'in conversation' event with Welsh rugby referee Nigel Owens MBE. Nigel is a television personality, comedian and the first openly gay rugby personality and has been described as "...the best referee in any of our major sports, the antithesis of a rulebook automaton, he is authoritative without being condescending and balances sharp comment with quick humour." His autobiography Half Time is warm, funny and painfully honest. Nigel speaks frankly about his struggle to accept himself for who he was, leading to attempted suicide, bulimia, and steroid addiction. Join us for an evening of storytelling and laughter as Nigel recounts many amusing incidents from rugby matches, foreign trips and his off-field career as an entertainer. Thursday 20 October, Auckland Grammar School.  Tickets on sale via eventfinda General Admission: $20, Friends of the Festival: $15, Students: $12.50 AWF Patrons please contact the Festival Office. OUR WOMEN OF INFLUENCE A huge congratulations to Festival Director Anne O'Brien Trustee Nicola Legat, both much-deserved finalists in the Arts & Culture category for the 2016 Westpac Women of Influence Awards! The category winners and the supreme award winner will be announced at the Women of Influence Awards dinner on 12 October. View the full list of categories and finalists. MORE