Novelist Fiona Farrell marks the publication of her work by taking the original manuscript out to the garden, setting fire to it, digging the ashes into the garden and planting carrots or broad beans or some other vegetable. How many writers around the world would do that to their manuscript? I found this out recently when I attended one of the events  organised by Morrin Rout and Ruth Todd of Women on Air.  Throughout the year they hold a number of these author events.

Women on Air happens each Saturday morning from 10 to 12 on Plains FM 96.9. This Saturday’s programme features a fairly typical mix of programming … Iranian born New Zealander Shabnam Dastgheib talks about her recent trip to Iran, what happened in the Iran elections and about Iran’s youthful demographic and how they are effected by the hardline regime. Elizabeth Gordon is in with her regular segment on the English language. Charmaine Nelson, a Project Manager at the education organisation LEARNZ who have taken a technologically innovative approach to teaching science based subjects at secondary schools discusses some of the projects they have undertaken and how they are trying to rejuvenate interest and learning in the subject.Barbara Allpress  has been involved in natural remedies and eating chemical-free foods for the past 30 years. She discusses the benefits of good diet and how with a few simple changes to our lifestyle, we will all feel a lot better. Budget Food Guru Sophie Gray has some great recession busting ideas and author Anna Taylor will also be on the show to discuss her new book “Relief”. Music is from Gillian Welch, Regina Spektor, Carol King and others.

If Saturday morning radio isn’t your thing or you are devoted to Kim, Women on Air is podcast from their website and the Plains FM website (which seemed to be a bit more up to date with last Saturday’s session available)

Ruth Todd and Morrin Rout are passionate about books and writing and as they say “they also talk to men” in another programme on Plains on Wednesday mornings from 10am – Bookenz. They are great enthusiasts for New Zealand writers so give them some airplay.