Tutor Kathryn Burnett is running a writing workshop in Auckland in October.

This intensive one-day brainstorm writing workshop takes you from the blank page to a basic plan for your new writing project.

Thanks to the British Council UK and the British Council New Zealand,  I spent 17 days in Edinburgh in August. I took in as much as I could (physically and mentally) of the Edinburgh International Book Festival. Some stats: this festival is now in its 27th year and runs over 18 days with around 750 events on offer (including family and school events), over 650 authors feature, and visitors to the site number around 200,000.

When the world falls apart, we need to pull together. Live, unrehearsed survival stories told by some of the country's most engaging people. Like a dinner party gone mad.

The New Zealand Book Council, Auckland Museum and Unity Books have gathered a talented, literate and entertaining bunch of people to raise money for the Christchurch Red Cross Appeal.

Oscar Kightley, Emily Perkins, Don McGlashan, Eve De Castro-Robinson, Steve Braunias, Arthur Meek, Noelle McCarthy, Simon Wilson, Marti Friedlander, Hamish Keith, Russell Brown, Leanne Pooley will all tell a true story on the night of September 30 on the theme of SURVIVAL......

A Wellington writer’s first novel will go head-to-head with works by two of our most acclaimed authors as finalists in the country’s most prestigious literary honours.

Alison Wong’s As the Earth Turns Silver was selected for the Fiction category shortlist, along with award-winning author Fiona Farrell, for her novel Limestone, and award-winning short-story writer Owen Marshall for his collection, Living as a Moon.

View the full shortlist below.

What a festival! Our gratitude to the writers, the audience and the volunteers knows no bounds.

We feel proud to have honoured our valued sponsors, funders, patrons and supporters.

Our heartfelt thanks to all of them, as always.

The tenth Festival boasts record numbers with attendances of 25,500, including a 23% increase in bookings for the Schools Programme.

Did you miss anything at the Festival? An author you weren't able to see, or a session that clashed with another?

Thanks to the fantastic coverage we received from the media, you can read about the Festival online.

We've pulled together a comprehensive list of Festival coverage, from reviews and summaries of different sessions to interviews with most of the festival guests.

Click through to keep reading.

We've put together a guide to having a great experience at the 2010 Festival. Click here for answers to frequently asked questions including:

Where's the best place to park?
Can I reserve seats?
How much time should I allow to pick up tickets?
Is there really a 50% student discount?
Can I get coffee at the Festival?
Will I be able to have my book signed?
Can I buy tickets at the last minute?

 
Food lover? Current affairs whiz? Poetry addict? There's something in our 2010 programme for you.

We've brought together top international and local writers to talk about subjects as diverse as art, war, religion, the novel, and rugby.

Take a look at the list of Festival events by topic, or view the programme day by day here.

Take high tea with four of New Zealand's top foodies. Be part of the live audience for The Good Word Debate. Linger over lunch with Rick Gekoski.

Spend an evening with top international storytellers William Dalrymple and Elizabeth Gilbert, or find out why the New Zealand Listener Opening Night is so popular.

There's a smorgasbord of special events on offer in 2010. Book now to secure your place - earlybird specials are available.

Join as a Festival Club Member before the 26th February and go in the draw to win a complete set of “Faber Firsts”.

“Faber Firsts” are stylish reprints of first novels by famous Faber authors. Nine are currently available and feature lovely vintage covers.

The set includes William Golding’s “Lord of the Flies”, an essential read for Festival fans. Upcoming guest John Carey is the author of the first biography of the Nobel Prize-winning William Golding and will be discussing it at the 2010 Festival from 12 – 16 May.