AWRF 2012

The Auckland Writers & Readers Festival has started a blog.

Here is an excerpt:

The line-up in 2012 is shaping up as must see. At this stage most of it remains secret but we’ve already leaked out a few key writers. Here are those tasters again, with a couple of clues on others sprinkled in:
Booker Prize Winner Roddy Doyle heads up a cast of beguiling Irishmen who’ll visit the Aotea Centre in May. His latest book Bullfighting is another great fiction collection from the man who brought us The Commitments and Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha. Here’s a video clip from authormagazine.org to give you a sense of the delight it’ll be to have him with us in May.
Also a master of her subject is the inimitable Dame Stella Rimington, ex MI5, spy writer extraordinaire and Dame of the realm. She won’t be the only thriller writer on the programme though, with one of her bestselling compatriots due to make a solo appearance and join a crime panel chaired by Craig Sisterson of Crime Watch. Craig is sworn to secrecy but definitely excited at the prospect.
For art and text in the most exquisite formats who can look past Oliver Jeffers? Much loved picture book illustrator and writer, his books are for young and old alike. And when he’s not producing books he’s doing other arty things like creating this map as the image for TED2013.
Oliver is featuring in both our main programme and our schools programme, alongside Eoin Colfer, Emily Rodda, Mal Peet and a cast of clever New Zealanders - two great days of Festival sessions and workshops designed particularly for upper primary, intermediate and secondary students. Bookings are now open and places are filling up so check out the programme here, and make sure if you’re in any way connected to a school that they don’t miss out on this amazing international event.
So, keep watching as we prepare for the full programme reveal in a fortnight. In the meantime we’re off to NZ Post Writers & Readers Week in Wellington for a spot of literary indulgence down country

Check out the new blog here.