There’s never been a better time to be a confessed book geek. Reading is experiencing a surge in popularity – book clubs are on the rise globally, Booktok has over 220b views and celebrities are following in Reese Witherspoon’s lead launching book clubs with conversations around authors and books reigniting a passion for the written word.
For those of us who have always been avid readers, this comes as no surprise however for those who are starting to find themselves in this wonderful world there is no better place to immerse than the Auckland Writer’s Festival.
This annual event has one of the best line ups ever this year and we are very excited.
The 2024 programme runs from Tuesday 14 – Sunday 19 May 2024 at the Aotea Centre. It includes authors talks, discussions debating global issues and masterclasses on everything from writing horro to crafting a memoir. Best of all, over 25 percent of the events will be free and unticketed operating on a first-in, best served status.
A selection of festival highlights include:
Bonnie Garmus (Lessons in Chemistry) will discuss her six-million debut novel and the remarkable journey she’s been on with Michele A’Court.
Iconic actor Sam Neill joins Robyn Malcolm to discuss his memoir Did I Ever Tell You This?
Paul Lynch, Book Prize winner for his novel Prophet Song discusses what winning the world’s most prestigious writing award for his novel on the Republic of Ireland as it slips into totalitarianism.
A fireside chat between one of America’s most celebrated authors, Ann Patchett (Bel Canto, Tom Lake) and her friend and fellow bestselling author Meg Mason (Sorrow and Bliss).
Becky Manawatu (Ngāi Tahu) in an exclusive early conversation about her next book Katarina, following on from the hugely successful bestseller Auē, which spent three-and-half-years on the bestseller list.
One of the world’s best literary historians and global thinkers Peter Frankopan joins Finlay McDonald in his first ever NZ appearance, to discuss The Earth Transformed, a study on climate change’s effect on society throughout history, and his major debut The Silk Road.
Leila Slimani (Watch us Dance), the award-winning author and journalist, one of Vanity Fair’s ‘Fifty Most Influential French People in the World’ and formerly French president Emmanuel Macron’s personal representative for the promotion of the French language and culture, meets Emily Perkins (Lioness) to discuss her extraordinary life and work.
Celeste Ng (Little Fires Everywhere)sits down with Asian in Aotearoa’s Jenna Wee about her compelling novels and weaving societal critique into runaway bestsellers.
Troy Kingi lays bare his creative process and invites the audience to help conceive, write and perform an entirely original waiata in under an hour.
Trent Dalton (Boy Swallows Universe) sits down with Samantha Hayes to discuss his latest novel Lola in the Mirror, and the success of the Boy Swallows Universe Netflix adaptation.
Lauren Groff (Fates and Furies) talks to Claire Mabey about her new novel The Vaster Wilds and what it’s like to have Obama write to you personally to praise your writing.
Anna Funder (All That I Am, Stasiland) meets Susie Ferguson to discuss her bestselling latest novel based on the life of George Orwell’s wife, Wifedom.
Toshikazu Kawaguchi (Before the Coffee Gets Cold series) talks to Maggie Tweedie about how his poignant, hopeful novels were born from a tragic loss at an early age, and his latest book in the million-copy selling series Before We Say Goodbye.
And there is so much more. It is going to be a whirlwind week that will inspire and delight.
This is just a small snapshot of the full programme available at writersfestival.co.nz. Public tickets are on sale from 9am, Friday 15 March via Ticketmaster or by calling 0800 111 999. Follow us for updates at: Instagram: aklwritersfest / Facebook @akwrfest www.writersfestival.co.nz.
