Sci fi, romance, self-help and ‘a bit of elephant’
A group of 22 authors shared their latest work at the Hamilton Book Month ‘Author’s Showcase’ on Saturday August 31 at Wintec.
The annual event gathered together authors from a range of diverse backgrounds and genres. Each had a presentation slot to share their work with other writers and the public, as well as a chance to network, sell books and trade tips and advice.
It was the last event for the month-long festival, which is organised by Catherine Wallace and Gail Pittaway.
The Author’s Showcase is open to writers who are published traditionally or self-published. Each author has a 4-minute slot to talk about their work with topics ranging from self-help to romance, science fiction to hand-stitched zines, art to historical fiction.
The experience and range of authors also contributes to the diversity of the event. Teacher Andy Peart, has just completed his first children’s book ‘Be Kind, Be Brave’, while a manuscript Peter Nicholl first started in 1985 has just been published as ‘Sanctions in Paradise’. Terry Carson thinks his book ‘Sergeant Kelly’s Elephant’, based in 1870 will be excellent if you like your historical fiction ‘with a bit of elephant’.
Other authors presenting were more experienced. Urban fantasy writer Johanna Rae has published multiple series over 10 years, Gary Nelson has written over 50 books and Kirsten McKenzie has several series of time travel books and thrillers.
The event provides a good networking opportunity with many of the authors sharing tips about their publishing experiences (good and bad), getting designers and illustrators and marketing their work.
After the presentations, authors took the opportunity to sell some books and speak with people attending.
Hamilton Book Month is now in its 11th year of bringing writers and audiences to the city.
The 2024 festival had 13 events which started with a fiction panel with Ockham winner Emily Perkins and Booker long list nominee Anna Smaill. It included a memoir panel with Craig Hoyle, Emma Wehipeihana and Ngāhuia Te Awekōtuku, a series of writing workshops, a live ‘Bookshop Detectives’ event, and the popular Literary Pub Quiz.
The organisers work hard to source funding and sponsorship to attract high quality guests and to provide many events at no cost to audiences. It’s quite an achievement for the city, especially as Pittaway and Wallace work on the festival voluntarily outside of their main jobs. Pittaway is a writer, academic and researcher at Wintec’s School of Media Arts, and Wallace is a literary agent with High Spot Literary, a music teacher and academic writer.
To find out more about this year’s festival or keep up to date with news, go to the Hamilton Book Month facebook page
Authors were: Jane Eyre, Michelle Peat, Enni Amanda Tuomisalo, Johanna M Rae, Peter Nicholl, Julie Legg, Gary Nelson, Peter Dornauf, Kirsten McKenzie, Nikki Perry, Kirsty Roby, Vianne Max, Anna Klein, Will Reid, Vaughan Rapatahana, Brittany Rose, Cristina A Schumacher, Hydie Balle-Hands, Terry Carson, Andy Peart, Mariana Jackson, Cindy Bell (presented by Liz Borrows), and Sharni Wilson (presented by Rhonda Ward)
