Day: 8 August 2014

Win tickets to Plum!

Vanessaccl2 Comments

Competition alert!
We have 6 double passes to Plum to give away, courtesy of The Court Theatre.

Plum runs from 9 to 30 August and deals with the wartime shenanigans of P. G. Wodehouse, the enormously popular author of the Jeeves and Blandings Castle novels and short stories.

For more background on Plum, read our blog posts.

Photo of Plum

To enter:

  1. Answer the following simple question: what was P.G. Wodehouse’s full name?
  2. Email your answer, name and contact details to competition@christchurchcitylibraries.com by 5 pm Sunday 17 August.

Conditions of Entry

  • Only one entry per person.
  • If you are a winner, you consent to your name being used for reasonable publicity purposes by Christchurch City Libraries.
  • Staff of Christchurch City Libraries and their immediate families are not eligible to enter.
  • The competition ends on Sunday 17 August at 5pm.
  • Winners will be drawn randomly and will be notified by telephone and/or email on Monday 18 August.
  • Prizes are in the forms of vouchers and don’t guarantee seats. You must book your seats at the Court Theatre’s Box Office.
  • Prizes are not transferable.

Jackie French: WORD Christchurch Writers and Readers Festival

Donna1 Comment

WORD Christchurch Writers and Readers Festival is a mere few weeks away – it kicks off on 27 August. We’ve asked three quick questions of festival guests:

Jackie French (photo by Kelly Sturgiss)
Jackie French (photo by Kelly Sturgiss)

Jackie French – Australian Children’s Laureate

Jackie French is a remarkable writer with a career spanning 25 years, 148 wombats, over 140 books, 36 languages and over 60 awards. She is currently the Australian National Children’s Laureate for 2014 and 2015.

She is regarded as one of Australia’s most popular children’s authors, and writes across all genres – from picture books, history, fantasy, ecology and sci-fi to her much-loved historical fiction.

What (or who) are you most looking forward to at WORD Christchurch?

The extraordinary friendliness of NZ – every time I visit it is like meeting old friends, even if we have only just met, or feeling at home in places where I have only just arrived.

What do you think about libraries?

Have you ever wondered why we whisper in libraries? It’s because we know subconsciously that they lead to a million different universes. Use the power well – and borrow as many books as you can- and you will find joy and fulfilment and friendship and fascination. But libraries are places of true power, none the less.

PS This fact needs to be noted by anyone considering reducing library funding, hours or staff positions. You have been warned.

Share a surprising fact about yourself.

 I once worked as an echidna milker. But the funding dried up, and so did the echidnas, so I turned to writing books for an income.

PS If you next question is ‘how do you milk an echidna, the answer is: carefully. But am happy to explain more about echidnas, wombat negotiation and the power of books at any of the sessions.

Cover of Down the road to Gundagai  Cover of I am Juliet Cover of Pennies for Hitler

Wartime in the city, 7 August 1942 : Picturing Canterbury

AmandaLeave a comment
Wartime in the city, 7 August 1942. Cranmer Square, Christchurch. “Universal” Bren gun carriers and motor cycle dispatch riders. The carrier driver 2nd from the left is R.G. Skipworth, 1st Battalion Canterbury Regiment. Christchurch City Libraries, HWC08-HO-141, Heritage Week 2008 Competition Entry.

Melinda Szymanik: WORD Christchurch Writers and Readers Festival

DonnaLeave a comment

WORD Christchurch Writers and Readers Festival is a mere few weeks away – it kicks off on 27 August. We’ve asked three quick questions of festival guests:

Melinda Szymanik – writer for children and young adults

Cover of The Song of KauriWhat (or who) are you most looking forward to at WORD Christchurch?

I’m really looking forward to taking part in the schools programme on Thursday and reading my books to children on Saturday. It’s always a thrill to share my stories with the young people I write for. And I’m most excited to hear the discussion about Young Adult fantasy writing, between Elizabeth Knox and Laini Taylor, chaired by Helen Lowe on Sunday.

What do you think about libraries?

I discovered so many wonderful books in libraries, both school and community based, as a child. Libraries supported my reading habit and enabled me to read much more widely than the family budget could ever have allowed. They helped shape me and contributed to me becoming a writer. I love them.

Share a surprising fact about yourself.

I researched Rock Wallabies on Rangitoto Island to get my Masters in Zoology.