Big names from the literary world hit Hamilton for book month
The annual Hamilton Book Month has been celebrating its 10-year milestone by bringing some of New Zealand’s top authors to the city.
Over the past two weeks Hamilton Book Month festival goers have been treated to a series of free events with high profile authors, including Ockham Award winner Emily Perkins, cultural icon and activist Dr. Ngāhuia Te Awekōtuku plus memoir writers Emma Wehipeihana (Espiner) and Craig Hoyle.
Now at the halfway point, there is still much more to come, including a Poetry Celebration with Poet Laureate Chris Tse and Tracey Slaughter, a talk with University of Waikato Writer in Residence, Ben Brown, an event with The Bookshop Detectives, the Literary Pub Quiz and the popular Authors Showcase, where writers from across the region share a diverse range of work covering a range of genres and publishing methods.
Organizers Gail Pittaway and Catherine Wallace been planning the event since the start of the year.
Wallace said Hamilton Book Month’s aim is all about “inspiring, upskilling, entertainment, and including people by bringing authors to them”.
She said the main purpose is also to showcase and promote New Zealand’s talent, support local authors and to involve people who are interested in writing and reading through a series of workshops.
There is all sorts of writing and events including poetry, storytelling for children, fiction, detective writers and a kid’s book battle.
Gail Pittaway (pictured) said the literary festival started out as part of the Hamilton Gardens Arts Festival where she was asked to find writers and story tellers to write and do activities.
She then met Wallace and got involved with National Poetry Day, which happens every August.
This early meeting became the start of Hamilton Book Month as they expanded to a longer programme by finding ways to connect a range of events and to bring high profile authors to the city. Past writer have included Witi Iimaera, Dame Fiona Kidman, Catherine Chidgey and Deborah Challinor.
Pittaway said she is proud of the achievements over the years and said the event has expanded with many in the community showing interest in reading and events.
Hamilton Book Month goes until the 31st of August. To find out more about visit Hamilton Book Month | Authors | Hamilton, New Zealand, or Facebook page Hamilton Book Month
