Going West: The Inner Music the Words Make

Fifteen New Zealand authors in discussion with 15 New Zealand interviewers: Words Chosen Carefully is a unique work celebrating New Zealand writers and writing.

Going West 2010 Books and Writers Weekend brings together Words Chosen Carefully – New Zealand Writers in Discussion featured writers Fiona Farrell, Jenny Bornholdt and interviewer Iain Sharp to discuss their writing and the interviews, with instigator and editor Siobhan Harvey.

‘The inner music the words make…’* - 5pm Saturday 11 September

The first of its kind in New Zealand in nearly two decades, Words Chosen Carefully brings together 15 New Zealand authors in discussion about their work and craft with 15 New Zealand interviewers. Partly inspired by The Paris Review, where literary reviews placed writers’ own words at the heart of how present and future readers might understand their work, the book offers a ‘distinct form of cultural conservation’.

We bring together featured writers Fiona Farrell, Jenny Bornholdt and interviewer Iain Sharp to discuss their writing and the interviews, with the book’s instigator and editor Siobhan Harvey.

 [*Truman Capote]

Book Launch - 6pm Saturday 11 September

Join us to celebrate the launch of Words Chosen Carefully – New Zealand Writers in Discussion. Waitakere Mayor Bob Harvey will speak, and wine and nibbles will be served. All welcome.
 

NB: Photographic portraits of the book’s featured authors and interviewers by Liz March, that appear in Words Chosen Carefully, are the subject of an exhibition at Lopdell House running from September 9 – October 3.

Siobhan Harvey
It has taken Siobhan Harvey more than 30 years and 19,000 kilometres to be here. Until her son was born six years ago, she carried knowledge of her unknown whakapapa and a pen every step of the way. Today she’s a consulting editor of the International Literary Quarterly and Poetry Editor of Takahe and when she’s not writing poetry, stories, literary interviews and book reviews, she is letting her son teach her that nephology hold the key to their future. A first New Zealand poetry collection is forthcoming.

Fiona Farrell

Fiona Farrell was born in North Otago, limestone country. She studied drama at the University of Toronto and began writing plays for children with lots of parts for talking trees and chatty rabbits. Since then, she has published three collections of poetry, two collections of short stories and six novels, four of which have featured in the New Zealand Book Awards. Her first won the award in 1993, and her most recent, Limestone, was shortlisted this year. She has held various residencies including the Mansfield Fellowship in Menton and the  Rathcoola Residency in Donoughmore, Ireland, but usually she can be found writing in a hut in a remote bay on Banks Peninsula. In 2007, she received the Prime Minister's Award for Literary Achievement. 

Iain Sharp 

Iain Sharp was born in Glasgow in 1953, but he has lived in New Zealand (mostly in Auckland) since 1961. He has a PhD in English literature from Auckland University. A qualified librarian, he has worked in the Special Collections Department of Auckland Central City Library since 2000. In 2007 he compiled the text for Real Gold, an illustrated book about the treasures held in the Special Collections Department, which include medieval manuscripts, hand-written letters from Charles Darwin, Florence Nightingale and Hone Heke, and first editions of works by Shakespeare, Wordsworth, Dickens, William Blake and Jane Austen. Iain’s recent book, Heaphy, an illustrated biography of the 19th century artist and explorer Charles Heaphy, was a finalist in the 2009 Montana Book Awards.

Books and Writers Weekend:

10-12 September

Titirangi War Memorial Hall

Day & Weekend Tickets: Book at Ticketmaster 0800 111 999 www.ticketmaster.co.nz
Saturday 11 September 9pm- 7pm
$85 full price, $70 concession
Includes lunch, morning and afternoon teas

Single session tickets: $15 adult, $10 conc. Buy 4 sessions and receive 1 free

Door sales available.