Planning is well under way for the 2009 Wanganui Literary Festival.  For a PDF of the Literary Festival Brochure click on front or back.  You can find a list of authors attending on the Events page, check out the Two One-Act Plays, check out the Fringe Festival programme, find a listing of all the events and prices and get an overview of the festival on the Home page.
 

Brush Up Your Shakespeare Local actor, David Charteris, takes you on a lighthearted, informative and amusing stroll through the plays and the age of Shakespeare with excerpts from favourite Shakespearean plays - and more.

James K Baxter in Wanganui Sponsored by the New Zealand Society of Authors (PEN Inc). In words and images local people tell of their experiences with the poet, James K. Baxter. Jacqui McGowan will discuss the creation of her book of Baxter poems and river images. Sculptress, Joan Morrell will discuss her experiences with Baxter while she created his image in bronze.

Writing Historical Fiction Workshop
In conjunction with NZ Society of Authors (PEN Inc)
A workshop in writing historical fiction by Christchurch author, Coral Atkinson. Coral's work has been published in NZ, Ireland and England. Her historical novels, The Love Apple, and The Paua Tower are both published by Random House. This seminar examines important aspects of writing historical fiction for adults and/ or children. Suitable for both experienced and emerging writers.

Legends Literary Bus Tour
This tour was one of the highlights in the 2006 festival. Wanganui has been home, or played host to many writers, starting with the Rev Richard Taylor in 1855. Mark Twain was a visitor in the late 19th century. Among many others Janet Frame, James K. Baxter, Sylvia Ashton-Warner and Ian Cross were inspired by the region.

An Evening with Owen Marshall
Owen Marshall has been described as the finest short story writer New Zealand has ever had. He has written or edited over twenty books and won awards and honours including the NZ Literary Fund Scholarship in Letters, university fellowships and the Katherine Mansfield Memorial Fellowship. His novel, Harlequin Rex won the 2000 Montana Book Awards, and his latest novel, Drybread will be released in August. Mix and mingle with Owen and other festival authors beforehand.

Showcase
Wanganui has nurtured many talented writers published and unpublished. Owen Marshall chairs this session which showcases but a few.

Storytelier Ken Benn
Ken Benn hails from Palmerston North. He is a mathematician, a novelist and a marvellous storyteller. Suitable for all ages from secondary school up.

Ruth Pettis and Airini Beautrais
Ruth Pettis from Dunedin joins poet Airini Beautrais, short-listed for Montana Best Poetry award, to discuss the ways in which their connections with Wanganui have informed their life and work. Mix and mingle beforehand.

Strands of Time
This session was one of the highlights of the 2006 festival and is a must for those who missed it. Local historians, Val Cowan, Penny Robinson and Wendy Pettigrew talk about their work researching, recording and preserving the precious history of Wanganui, the river and districts.

The Writer's Life
Council Cultural Affairs manager, Sally Patrick, talks with journalist Merania Karauria and Auckland's Kirsten Warner talks with local author, Joan Rosier-Jones.

An Encounter with Gordon McLauchlan
Gordon McLauchlan is a social commentator, cultural critic, journalist, columnist, feature writers and the author of many best-selling books. Perhaps the most well-known of these is The Passionless People. More recently he has published with Penguin Books A Short History of New Zealand which was followed by A Short, Short History of New Zealand.

The Art of Fiction
Fiction has been described as 'truth masquerading as lies'. Panel, Owen Marshall, Graeme Lay and Dianne Ruth Pettis, discuss their own truths
with Chair Ann-Marie Houng-Lee.

Poetry Live
Performance poetry has launched the careers of many poets. This may be your chance. Listen to guest poets, Jim McGregor, Elizabeth Coleman and Hayley Solomon. Then air your own poetry.

River Songs
Much has been written about the Whanganui District and River. During this session three writers, Chris Shenton, Merania Karauria and Morven Simon discuss their work and what Whanganui means to them with Chair, Sharon Dell, Director of the Whanganui regional Museum.

A Convocation of Writers
Sponsored by Poppies Bookshop. Join members of the Central Districts branch of the NZ Society of Authors for elevenses. Authors will be available for book signing. Light refreshments will be served.
 

For a PDF of the Literary Festival Brochure click on front or back. On this site you can check out the Fringe Festival programme, go to the Events page for a list of the confirmed authors attending the 2009 Wanganui Literary Festival, find a listing of all the events and prices, go to the Home page for an overview of the 2009 festival, check out the Two One-Act Plays or go to the News page to read about the Poetry Luncheon with Glenn Colquhoun and Kevin Ireland. You can also check out background on the festival director, Joan Rosier-Jones.
 

This page was last updated 21/07/2009