Nov
26
By Auckland Writers & Readers Festival on
Thursday, Nov 26, 2009
 New Yorker Festival
I attended the New Yorker Festival in October, thanks in part to the generosity of the New Yorker and especially AWRF09 guest Rhonda Sherman, Director of the Festival.
As a first-time visitor to New York (strange but true), I revelled in the challenge of locating the events in a variety of wonderful venues, including the City Winery, the Directors Guild Theatre and the dining room at Conde Nast’s office.
Wishing I had three or four sentient clones, but only able to be in one place at one time, I left with wonderful memories of stand-out performances...
Read full post »
|
Nov
25
By Auckland Writers & Readers Festival on
Wednesday, Nov 25, 2009
 Read about award-winning books from around the globe.
Take a look at our brief recap of recent literary prizes in Canada, France, Australia, Ireland, the UK, and the Netherlands...
Read full post »
|
Oct
16
By Auckland Writers & Readers Festival on
Friday, Oct 16, 2009
 We would like to congratulate Peter Wells, Trustee of AWRF, on his recent Copyright Licensing Ltd (CLL) Writers’ Award for non-fiction.
Peter co-founded the Festival with fellow writer Stephanie Johnson in 1999...
Read full post »
|
Oct
13
By Auckland Writers & Readers Festival on
Tuesday, Oct 13, 2009
 ‘The Miniatures - An adventure in the Bren Collection’ by Stephanie Johnson is now on display at the Hawkes Bay Museum and Art Gallery. Stephanie is a Trustee and co-founder of the Festival.
The Miniatures weaves a magical moment around the tiny objects of the Bren collection – a set of miniatures collected in London during the 1930s and 1940s by Reverend Robert Bren. Donated to the Hawke's Bay Cultural Trust in 1958 by Rev Bren’s widow, a single black and white photograph and five small dolls remain the only clues of the stories around which the Reverend created this extraordinary collection.
Read full post »
|
Jul
31
By Auckland Writers & Readers Festival on
Friday, Jul 31, 2009
 The ninth Auckland Writers & Readers Festival ran from Wednesday 13 May to Sunday 17 May with 22 international writers and 68 local writers and commentators.- It is the largest public showcase for New Zealand literature and publishing in the world and the largest international literary festival in New Zealand.
- 63 events were staged: 40 ticketed, 11 free and 12 Schools’ Programme sessions.
- Audiences numbered 25,000, an increase in attendance of 89%. Ticket sales increased by 42%.
Schools’ Programme, new for 2009 and designed specifically for youn
Read full post »
|
Jul
15
By Auckland Writers & Readers Festival on
Wednesday, Jul 15, 2009
Notes from Stalin-era intelligence archives show 'agent Argo' as a willing recruit in 1941.
 The recent publication Spies: The Rise and Fall of the KGB in America (Yale University Press), reveals the Nobel prize-winning novelist was for a while on the KGB's list of its agents in America. Co-written by John Earl Haynes, Harvey Klehr and Alexander Vassiliev, the book is based on notes that Vassiliev, a former KGB officer, made when he was given access in the 90s to Stalin-era intelligence archives in Moscow.
Read the full story on Guardian Online, Books...
Read full post »
|
Jul
15
By Auckland Writers & Readers Festival on
Wednesday, Jul 15, 2009
Jill Rawnsley, previously the Auckland Writers & Readers Festival Director, will continue at the Festival as Artistic Director. Jill has led the development of the event since 2001 where she has, together with Festival Founders and original Creative Directors Stephanie Johnson and Peter Wells, brought authors and speakers from around the globe and every corner of New Zealand to Auckland for six highly innovative and extraordinary Festivals. We're thrilled to have Jill return to the fold after a well-deserved break and excited about what the 2010 Auckland Writers & Readers Festival 10th anniversary year has to offer.
Read full post »
|
Jul
15
By Auckland Writers & Readers Festival on
Wednesday, Jul 15, 2009
Posted by Robyn of Christchurch City Libraries and including Robyns observations on:
Best chair
Best session
Best dressed audience
Best answer to a question
Most mentions of libraries in a session
Really random observations
Read full post »
|
Jun
08
By Auckland Writers & Readers Festival on
Monday, Jun 08, 2009
May's 2009 Auckland Writers & Readers Festival was a momentous success. Overall attendance was up 89% on the 2008 Festival. Ticket sales increased by 42%, and audiences numbered over 25,000 for the 63 events over five days. “We are absolutely delighted,” says Festival Director Jill Rawnsley.
Read full post »
|
May
04
By Auckland Writers & Readers Festival on
Monday, May 04, 2009
Response to the 2009 Auckland Writers & Readers Festival guest speakers and theme – ‘”find out what on Earth is going on” – has been enthusiastic since the full programme was launched on 30 March. “A lunch event with New Yorker writer Judith Thurman has already sold out (Thurman can still be seen in New Yorker Night and An Hour with Judith Thurman), and overall ticket sales are 30% up on 2008. Bookings for the inaugural Schools Programme have exceeded all expectations, and we’ve had an unprecedented number of requests for programmes from outside Auckland this year which is also very encouraging” says Auckland Writers & Readers Festival Director Jill Rawnsley (right).
Read full post »
|