Auckland Writers Festival 15- 20 May 2018

 

AUCKLAND WRITERS FESTIVAL 15 - 20 May 2018

FIRST NAMES ANNOUNCED FOR OUR 2018 SCHOOLS PROGRAMME       We are excited to announce the following writers for the 2018 Schools Programme: The 2015-2017 UK Children's Laureate Chris Riddell is a prize-winning writer and illustrator as well as a political cartoonist. His acclaimed children’s books have garnered major awards, including the Costa Children’s Book Award in 2013 and he has earned the rare accolade of winning the CILIP Kate Greenaway Medal three times.  Dame Anne Salmond is one of this country's leading historians and public intellectuals, with a keen interest in inspiring all generations of New Zealanders to think about our past, present and future as a country, particularly in the areas of Maori-Pakeha relations, conservation and the environment. Children’s book author and illustrator Gavin Bishop (Ngāti Mahuta (Tainui) and Ngāti Pukeko, Ngāti Awa) has won numerous national and international awards for his work, as well as for his illustrations. His latest book, Aotearoa: The New Zealand Story, navigates a rich journey through defining moments in our history. Poet, teacher and performer Selina Tusitala Marsh, who wrote and performed a poem for the Queen in 2016, is New Zealand’s current Poet Laureate. She is strong advocate for Pasifika poetry and literature. Marsh’s first book, Fast Talking PI won the Best First Book Award for Poetry at the 2010 New Zealand Book Awards and she has just published her third collection, Tightrope.  Guardian Fiction Prize winner Alex Wheatle spent most of his childhood in a Surrey children’s home and started writing lyrics and performing as a DJ in his teen years. His early poetry gained him the moniker of the Brixton Bard and he received an MBE for services to Literature in 2008. Loads more names to be announced with the full programme on 7 February. More information available here.     2018 OCKHAM NEW ZEALAND BOOK AWARDS LONGLIST ANNOUNCED       Forty books traversing the cultural, historic, artistic and social landscape of Aotearoa New Zealand have made the longlist for the prestigious Ockham New Zealand Book Awards, announced this week. Ten books are longlisted in each of the four awards’ categories: fiction, general non-fiction, illustrated non-fiction and poetry. Together, they offer riches from both literary luminaries and our rising stars. Full details are available online. Deciding what to read over summer? Look no further than these 40 fine books. Take the challenge and buy NZ books for Christmas! #NZBookChristmasChallenge Help support the industry and get behind NZ authors, publishers and book shops this year.     LOOKING FOR CHRISTMAS GIFTS?       2018 CONCESSION PASSES Concession Passes can be used by one person or shared among friends or book clubs, and can be used for one session or for multiple events (General Events only). You will receive a special Christmas Concession Pass voucher and code to be redeemed when tickets go on sale on 16 March. Save up to $100! TAKE 5 Concession Pass: $85 TAKE 10 Concession Pass $160 To purchase, or for more information, please email. SIGN UP A FRIEND AS A FRIEND An annual AWF Friend membership is $100 per person and includes: an invitation to our March programme launch, priority booking ahead of public ticket sales, access to a dedicated booking line with no transaction fees, reserved seating at all ticketed events and special offers and discounts all year round. Numbers are limited, so don't miss out, further details available online.     JOIN THE 2018 FESTIVAL TEAM        Our volunteers are an essential part of each Festival’s success. While there are no particular skills or work experience required for you to become a volunteer, a love of literature and books is a good start. If you see yourself as being enthusiastic, generous, reliable, friendly, motivated, tactful and are available for 3 or more shifts (of 4-5 hours) then it’s a great way to get involved. This year's dates are Tue 15 - Sun 20 May, if you would like to be considered as a volunteer, please email us and register your interest.     OFFERS FROM OUR FESTIVAL FRIENDS         What is the best way to get a freshly baked cookie out of Granny’s cookie jar? Find out what lengths the Taverton kids will go to for a cookie in Holy Cookie Jar, the first short story in this special tenth year storybook, written by the ten imaginative young winners of the Barfoot & Thompson Young Authors Challenge. The book was edited by renowned authors, Maria Gill and John Parker, and illustrated by kiwi icons including Keven Mealamu, Otis Frizzell, and Kiri Nathan. Every book you buy contributes to Starship Foundation and the Barfoot & Thompson Magic of Reading programme, which puts a book into the hands of every child who stays overnight in Starship Hospital or Whangarei Hospital children’s ward. Order your copy here.     WIN TICKETS TO THE SECRET SCRIPTURE Six-time Academy Award nominee and acclaimed writer-director Jim Sheridan returns to Irish themes and settings with The Secret Scripture, a feature film based on 2012 Festival guest Sebastian Barry’s Man Booker Prize-winning novel and featuring a stellar international cast featuring Rooney Mara, Vanessa Redgrave, Jack Reynor, Theo James and Eric Bana. Lady Rose is an elderly woman who has lived in a hospital for over 50 years. Despite her bleak surroundings there is a light in her eyes that cannot be extinguished. Dr. Stephen Grene is drawn to her, compelled to discover her past and help gain her freedom. Through Lady Rose’s ‘scripture’, a life of extraordinary love and great injustice emerges, revealing a remarkable young woman of courage, whose only crime was to fall in love. Set against a backdrop of troubled times locally, and chaos internationally, we learn of her ultimate triumph.  We have 5 double passes to give away: email to enter the draw by Thursday 7 December. WIN TICKETS TO MOLLY'S GAME   Starring Jessica Chastain and Idris Elba, Molly’s Game tells the thrilling true story of Molly Bloom, the mastermind behind a poker empire whose players included the rich, famous and most powerful men in America. In a career-best performance, Chastain portrays Molly as she rises from Olympic-hopeful athlete to running the world’s most exclusive poker games in LA and New York. The deep pockets of Hollywood royalty, sports stars and business titans give her a decade of glitzy, glamourous success. But it all comes crashing down when the FBI come after her, suspecting ties to the Russian mob. Academy Award winning writer Aaron Sorkin (The West Wing) delivers a quick-witted, fiery directorial debut with Molly’s Game, taking us behind the headlines of Hollywood’s “poker princess” to reveal a smart, talented young woman who gambled everything, won big, then lost it all.  We have 5 double passes to give away: email to enter the draw by Thursday 7 December.     RELIVE THE FESTIVAL VIA PODCAST & VIDEO       For those who missed out on tickets for the December David Walliams event, here is a flashback to his hilarious Auckland Writers Festival appearance in 2015 on the release of Awful Auntie. View it now.  We have loaded a selection of videos and podcasts to our Look, Listen & Learn page so you can enjoy the magic at home. Revisit your favourite writer's sessions, or catch up on the events you missed. There's something for everyone! Podcasts are also available on itunes so you can download and listen on the go.      WITH THANKS TO OUR MAJOR FESTIVAL PARTNERS: