Going West with Murray Gray
When Murray Gray is not reading, he is listening to audio books in his car. When he’s not selling ‘slightly used’ books in west Auckland, he is directing the Going West Books and Writers Festival programme - a role he’s had since its inception 14 years ago.
In this Q&A, Gray describes how the literary event was inspired by Maurice Gee’s book Going West, and how the festival has evolved.
It is now a month-long programme and includes umbrella events, exhibitions, workshops, seminars, theatre, a writer in schools programme and a family day.
“At the heart of all the events is the written word,” says Gray.
The major centrepiece of the festival is still the literary weekend, from September 11-13, covering writing in its broadest sense with discussions, readings, performance and film screenings.
When and why was the Going West Books and Writers Festival started?
When Going West began 14 years ago, it was the Auckland region's first writers festival. Its focus is on writers, thinkers and performers from New Zealand and the Pacific - past and present, established and emerging. Since its inception in 1996 it has attracted more than 350 writers and performers to take part.
The festival runs for a month in August./September across various venues in Waitakere City and includes exhibitions, workshops, seminars, a theatre season (this year it was a sold out season of Krishnan’s Dairy), a book market, poetry slam, a literary weekend and a free family day ‘Storyfest’.
The original inspiration behind the festival was the steam train journey. The train journey was one of the festival's defining events over its first decade. While on board, train passengers were treated to word-based performances up the Western Line from Central Auckland to Helensville and back.
Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey and I came up with the idea out of a desire to make literature into an event and to celebrate the train trip that Maurice Gee describes in his book 'Going West', which also became the name of the whole festival.
The normally reclusive Gee appeared three times at the festival, one year reading an excerpt from his novel 'Going West' on the Henderson platform where he had not stood for 40 years.
And the event came full circle with writer C.K. Stead, another regular passenger, turning it into literature in his 1999 novel, 'Talking About O'Dwyer', in which he uses details of the festival's train trip to illuminate a character's connection to the west.
However, due to the double tracking of some of the Western Line and the introduction of Sunday train services, 2005 was advertised as the last year of the Going West steam train journey. But watch that space - the Arts Team and the Railway Enthusiasts Society are hoping that the journey may be part of the programme again in coming years.
How has the festival evolved?
The festival has evolved to include other events around the literary weekend, so now we umbrella various exhibitions, workshops and seminars, and even a writers in schools programme. And we present a theatre season and have a free family day.
But at the heart of all the events is the written word.
The major centrepiece of the festival is still the literary weekend – this year it’s titled ‘By Buy Bye The Book’ and takes place from 11-13 September and this year includes a free afternoon ‘Westside Forever’ focused on Waitakere writing.
The literary weekend covers writing in its broadest sense with discussions, readings, performance, film screenings, and even, for this year, cooking! Plus there’s great food and wines.
How does Going West generate opportunites for New Zealand writers?
By offering a platform for reading and discussion that does not require international status to appear. They are not competing for attention with the big overseas names.
What combination of people and resources are required to put on this festival?
Naomi McCleary, Manager Arts, at Waitakere City Council heads a team that includes a publicist, programme co-ordinator and a programme associate. I manage the programme development with my associate.
What’s been the biggest impact or success to date?
The fact that the festival has run for 14 years is the biggest success.
Describe your role as programme director?
Developing and constructing the three day literary weekend so we offer a range of NZ writing that can move people to seek more.
How and when did you get involved? What keeps you involved?
I’ve been involved from the very start – when Mayor Bob Harvey and I came up with the idea.
What is involved in the preparation for the festival?
Reading and talking and having good ideas that can translate into a session.
What on the programme are you personally most excited about?
From Scratch and the screening of the film Pacific 321 Zero on Sunday afternoon. Not really seen since the early 80's.
What are some other highlights of the festival?
The off site events such as the theatre session, Poetry Slam, workshops at Corban's Estate Arts Centre and the events aimed at schools and families.
What impact, in your view, is the current economic climate having on writers, book sales and festivals?
No opinion really.
How do you approach this challenge and how does Going West help?
We pay everyone who appears.
What are your hopes and passions for the future of the festival?
To survive the destruction of the Waitakere City Council that has put so much into Going West over the last 14 years and present number 15.
What are you reading at the moment?
Curently reading, and listening to where available, novels involving Italian detectives by Michael Dibdin, Magadalene Nabbs and Dona Leon.
Who are some of your favourite authors (including NZ authors) and why?
James Courage and David Ballentyne. Why? Because they were writing fiction when there was little published in NZ during the fifties. So brave!
What’s the best way to enjoy a book, and why?
By extending the process of reading by listening to an oral version ie audio books, by going to the source material and by locating the action on Google Earth.
What do you do when you’re not programming Going West?
Sell used books. Try to read complete canons by authors in publication order.
What’s your Big Idea for 2010?
Presenting another Going West and competing with the Rugby World Cup.
