Goodness, it’s quiet in the world of New Zealand books at the moment. And unfortunately, the two main stories are rather sad ones.
Jan Mark, who was to appear in two sessions at the New Zealand Post Writers and Readers Week, has died unexpectedly in England at the age of 62. Mark (pictured) wrote books for all ages and enjoyed a distinguished career, winning the Carnegie Medal twice, the Penguin Guardian Award, the Observer Teenage Fiction Prize and the Angel Award for Fiction.
The New Zealand International Arts Festival's Artistic Director Carla van Zon said:
The news about Jan Mark's death is very sad and has taken us all by surprise, we extend our condolences to her family and friends. Anne O'Brien, Writers and Readers Co-Ordinator, is working with New Zealand children's writer Kate De Goldi in the hope of finding a replacement.
The second piece of bad news for the Writers and Readers Week is Jan Morris pulling out due to ill health. Morris (pictured) has been replaced by rare book dealer and raconteur Dr Rick Gekoski, who was on the judging panel of the Man Booker Prize last year. More details on the Book Council website.
On a cheerier note, Northland bookworms are in for a treat soon: Words on Wheels is celebrating its 15th birthday with a subtropical tour. On board for the tour are poet and novelist Elizabeth Smither, fiction writer and playwright Jo Randerson, novelist Paula Morris, young adult writer David Hill, poet Hinemoana Baker and fiction writer Richard Wolfe.
Starting off at the North Shore on Saturday 25 February, WOW will travel as far north as Doubtless Bay and end in Warkworth on Sunday 5 March. Get the itinerary here.
19 Jan 06 | Filed by Chris | Add your comment (1 so far)Was this information valuable to you? If so, please donate to keep LeafSalon free and fund the addition of more articles like this. Any help is most appreciated - simply click below to securely send a contribution through a credit card and Paypal.
Comment by maggie ~ January 22, 2006 06:54 PM
I was so excited at scoring a ticket to the Jan Morris luncheon with John…two tickets actually - I was the envy of my book club(s)… who is this Rick guy.?..well I'll cope - no doubt if he is a Man Booker Judge, he will have anecdotes and insight and John (Campbell that is) will enthuse as only John can.
But, I digress… my main reason for commenting is to applaud Chris's “Vantastic” - bought it for hubby (while I was galavanting in Europe, it was under the tree for him as a Xmas present). He said it evoked all of his senses…and in particular he enjoyed remembering how hard it was to wind down the parking jacks, the plastic smell of the water bottle and the struggle to get the awning to slide athrough the channel along the roof of the van. He also recognised (well, not actually, but similarities) - his Mum, his caravan etc. etc.
So well done Chris - and oh how I wish it had been in hardback (worthy of it!!). What a cute little cult the caravaners were…and while I was in Turkey (yes, I had to add that) - I visited a “Karavansai” where the camel trains used to park overnight… a nice bit of symmetry.
Also read “Kissing Shadows” by Renee while on the beach at Anaura Bay (NZ's best kept secret..ssssshhhhhhh)….And highly recommend Renee's book - it touches a whole heap of Kiwi history and a particularly sad journey without being “maudlin” and Ruby and Vivvie are interesting and engaging characters.
Well that's me…couldn't stay quiet for too long.
Had my hat in the ring for the Lillian Ida Smith and see that Rachel King is the worthy winner - and if you are going to be beaten - then it's good to see the pedigree and know the better woman has won.
The good thing about literature, is that it is not a race, but a creative space and we are so lucky to inhabit it!
Good luck to one and all this year.
I'm excited, enthused and waiting for the muse!
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