AWF - It's a wrap !

IT'S A WRAP! In an intellectual and emotional whirlwind, the Auckland Writers Festival hit us all, embraced us, then flew away - and wasn't it a fabulous experience? The City of Sails placed itself at the heart of the written world last week as the Auckland Writers Festival broke its own record, with over 65,000 seats filled. A huge and hearty THANK YOU to each and every one of you for your good humour, great attendance, interesting questions and all 'round excellent company! People young and old flocked to the Festival, which has just celebrated its 16th year, to see more than 150 novelists, playwrights, song writers, scientists, historians, children’s writers, critics, editors, illustrators and poets from New Zealand and around the world. In the words of Festival director Anne O'Brien, the enormous enthusiasm and increasing Festival attendance is testament to people’s hunger for more substantive conversations, and deeper engagement with the world and each other: "We know that literate citizens live better lives and build better worlds, and we’re delighted to have played our part in cultivating literacy in the country over the last six days."