I’m off to a session of The Press Christchurch Writers Festival this Sunday. I’d like to say it’s because I’m committed to filling my mind with erudite learning and historical facts about New Zealand.
Honestly, though? It comes to this: there’s a castle. And in the castle there is, by all accounts, an intrigue and a scandal. If this alone isn’t enough to woo you, add these enticements: the setting is our own beloved Larnach Castle; the writer is Owen Marshall; and tickets for the event are only $15.
The Larnachs is a fictional re-telling of the story of William Larnach, his third wife Constance, and her relationship with William’s son Douglas. I’m not going to blather on today about the storyline, the great attention to details both character and historical, or the glowing reviews received for the book so far. Instead I’m just going to say, go get yourself a ticket and I’ll see you there. And next week I’ll post some pics, and we can have a good old natter about the event, the writing, and what we all thought.
Oh, and if anyone has already managed to get a copy and read it, please comment below and tell us what you thought!
Christchurch City Libraries Blog 
I am also giddying up for Owen. He’s not only a great writer to read, he’s also a great writer to see talking about his work and to hear reading his work, and Ruth Todd is consistently one of the best prepared interviewers of writers. This should be a real treat; I haven’t read the book because I’m planning on buying it at the event and getting it signed by the man himself.