Are you ready? | Book Events

Well - one more sleep to go and it's all guns blazing. Those Auckland Writers and Readers Festival girls have really rolled out the big one this year. LeafSalon would like to extend our heartiest congratulations in advance for what looks set to be a superb literary festival. And a cheery welcome to all writers buzzing about Auckland from tonight onwards - we hope to be raising a glass with a few of you tomorrow night at the big launch do. That Tim Winton had better have his wits about him, and check his luggage for stowaways on Monday, that's all I can say.

Now listen up: we'd like to extend an invitation for anyone attending events this weekend to write in and tell us all about your Festival experiences - was it electrifying, stimulating, immobilising, mesmerising, who touched Tim, anything really. Make sure you take notes, we want quotes.

Bring it on.

23 May 07 | Filed by Kathy | Add your comment (4 so far)

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Comment by Zelda ~ May 24, 2007 6:27 PM

Well, packing the bags tonight, packing the cats and puppies into kennels in the morning and then making the long drive up from Napier. Great programme - although all the events I want to go to are on Saturday - back to back all day and so am expecting to crash on Saturday night. Fabulously spoilt!

AD BREAK ! Friend Val Monk will be on stage live talking about her enchanting Crown Lynn book with Rosemary McLeod - so got to be there for that.

... see y'all at the bookshop and coffee queues!

Comment by Zelda ~ May 29, 2007 10:40 PM

Well, that invitation to 'write in and tell us' fell on deaf ears - or the ethernet equivalent.!!
I don't know about the rest of you but I only went to good sessions. Only one was less than fantastic - the travellers' tales on Sunday afternoon - but probably my response had more to do with my middle-age and wondering why those young ones had been so stupidly reckless as to risk near death! Wonderful photos though! And excellent chairing too.
Kate Grenville - a star.
Carol Beu chairing - a star too
Friend Val with Rosemary McLeod and the social dance book gal were fab - of course. Have to buy the dance book now ...
Rachel Seiffert - she writes, she knits - has she met Rosemary McLeod???
Paula Morris chairing - please ask her back as she was THE BEST!
Carrie Tiffany - really interesting mainly as she still seems bewildered by the novel process, which struck me as honest. Love her novel the most ...
Oh and Richard E Grant with Te Radar - I was skeptical but what a combo! Laugh?! They bounced off each other in the most hilarious way (who would have thought that would work sooooo well!) Can foresee a world tour - although the row of surprise attack Swazilanders would have to go too!! A big thanks to the Parnell Book Group gals who gathered me up, and let me keep them company - Pam, Jan and Mary Claire you were gems!!!!
Richard Ford - ahhhhhhhhhh!
The organisation was pretty remarkable - well done to everyone involved (and those coffee guys and usher gals and bookstall folks worked very hard all weekend - hats off!)
A really successful event for someone who was just audience - I am glad I made the 10 hour plus round trip (mmm ...got lost in the Waikato on the way home - has anyone else been down Valentine Road?) .
Looking forward to the next festival already ...

Comment by mary mac ~ May 30, 2007 11:48 PM

Thanks Zelda -- a nice brisk run through the event for those of us who didn't make it up there. Maybe next year... and you know I got lost in the Wairarapa too bringing my son and his friends back from the Big Day Out. We ended up at some sweet factory and then decided (sugar rush?) to go to Rotorua. Quite fun in fact.

Comment by mary mac ~ May 31, 2007 10:59 AM

Oops - meant to say got lost in the Waikato ... sweets ...sugar rush...hotpools...that order.