The Remuera Library in Auckland is hosting some heavyweight writing talent for a bit of a chat on Tuesday 16 November at 7pm. The gorgeously-tressed Catherine Chidgey (right), Stephanie Johnson and Tina Shaw will be discussing their books and their writing fellowships in Menton and Berlin.

Catherine Chidgey, voted best NZ novelist under 40 in a recent Listener survey, has won just about everything going in NZ included the Sargeson Fellowship, the Katherine Mansfield Fellowship, and in 2002 the $60,000 Glen Schaeffer award. She has also attracted much international attention from the likes of Louis de Bernieres and Nick Hornby, no less, both of whom rate her, big time. Her latest novel, The Transformation, is about a creepy wig-maker in 1989 in Tampa, Florida. I want to read it very badly.

Stephanie Johnson is an incredibly prolific and versatile writer, poet and playwright who is also a Katherine Mansfield Fellow. In the last two years she wrote a volume of poetry entitled, endearingly, Moody Bitch, and a novel this year, Music in a Distant Room.

Last, but by no means least, Tina Shaw – another versatile writer, with short stories, editing of a NZ travel-writing anthology (A Passion for Travel (1998), and novels under her belt. In 1999 she was a Buddle Finlay Sargeson Fellow and in 2001 she received the Creative New Zealand Berlin Writer's Residency. Nice. Her latest book is Paradise (2002), which 'explores the ripple effects of terrorism and the elusive search for utopia'.

Should be a very good night with some serious inspiration. For boys too! And check the price: $5 gets you wine and cheese with your amazing writers. Ring 374 1323 for more details.