Women Changing the World Heads Up Writers and Readers Festival Programme

Women Changing the World, a fast-paced, funny and fascinating series of talks from women doing their part to effect change in the world will open this year’s Writers & Readers. The gala event will be held on International Women’s Day, 8 March, with a line-up that includes Aotearoa’s Poet Laureate Selina Tusitala Marsh, Australian novelist Charlotte Wood, broadcaster Kim Hill, free-range celebrity cook Annabel Langbein, and American poet and memoirist Patricia Lockwood and more.

From politics and poetry to fiction and food, Writers & Readers to host exciting programme in the Capital this March. The full line up for Writers & Readers, part of the 2018 New Zealand Festival, was announced programme manager Mark Cubey, who said the eclectic programme offers something for everyone, whether you’re a voracious reader or just dipping a toe in the literary world.

Made up of three days of intimate sessions with writers and speakers spanning politics to poetry and fiction to food, “This is not just a literary festival” Cubey says. As well as covering the best fiction and nonfiction writing, there are sessions on podcasts, filmmaking, photography, comics and games. “I believe the role of Writers & Readers is not only to satisfy existing audiences, but to find and develop new audiences.”

Some highlights
With the line between reality and make-believe drawing ever closer, speculative fantasy and horror will be explored through lectures and conversations with science fiction Cory Doctorow, fantasy novelist Charlie Jane Anders and speculative fiction master Ian Tregillis.  Award-winning author Lloyd Jones will join Australian writer Charlotte Wood in conversation about his latest novel The Cage.

Lloyd Geering

Respected theologian Lloyd Geering and American journalist Sarah Sentilles will explore complex social issues, while British writer Francis Spufford discusses belief and the concept of God with Wellington fantasy writer Elizabeth Knox.  AC Grayling, author of Democracy and Its Crisis will discuss the state of modern democracy, and intensive care specialist Charlie Corke will talk about what it might mean to have a good death.

There will also be visual feasts; illustrated conversations on storytelling through photography, illustration and comics. Nigerian photographer and author Teju Cole will discuss his work, while NZ photographers Peter Black, Marcus Thomas and Neil Silverwood will have work on display. Companion event Photobook NZ will showcase the best photography from here and around the world.

Visiting comics include Singapore’s Sonny Liew, and Sarah Glidden and Mimi Pond from the United States alongside New Zealand cartoonists Sharon Murdoch and Toby Morris who will discuss the power of illustration.

Poetry and short prose will be championed through local writers including New Zealand Poet Laureate Selina Tusitala Marsh, Ashleigh Young, Hera Lindsay Bird and Bill Manhire and international visitors including Patricia Lockwood, Nick Earls and Jeet Thayil.

Samin Nosrat
Samin Nosrat

And then, there’s Californian chef Samin Nosrat will explain the importance of the four elements that make up her book, Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat.

Closer to home, don’t miss the Victoria University Press launch party where the publication of three brand new books – Therese Lloyd’s The Facts, Vincent O’Sullivan’s All This by Chance, and Gigi Fenster’s Feverish – will be celebrated in style at the New Zealand Festival Club at Odlin’s Plaza.

For all the details go to : https://www.festival.co.nz/2018/writers-readers/