Day: 12 August 2014

Nicky Pellegrino: WORD Christchurch Writers and Readers Festival

DonnaLeave a comment

WORD Christchurch Writers and Readers Festival kicks off on 27 August. We’ve asked three quick questions of festival guests:

Nicky-Pellegrino-newNicky Pellegrino – journalist and novelist

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

I’m really excited about both the events I’m involved in. I’ve been a huge fan of food writer Ruth Reichl for years, have read all her memoirs and enjoyed her debut novel so to be appearing at a morning tea with her is a huge thrill. And Diane Setterfield‘s book The Thirteenth Tale is one of my all-time favourites so I’m looking forward to chairing a session with her. My only concern is that I may be a little starstruck by them both!

What do you think about libraries?

If I’m honest I’d like people to buy their very own copy of my books – make that several copies! After all it’s how I make a living. But for many that’s not possible. Certainly when I was a kid my parents couldn’t afford many books and our weekly trip to the local library to stock up on new reading was an essential part of life. So I think libraries are wondrous places filed with possibilities and surprises and adventures and learning and stories, lots and lots of stories.

Share a surprising fact about yourself.

When I was at primary school my parents were told my reading skills were way below average … fortunately I caught up!

Cover of The Food of love cookery school Cover of When in Rome The-Villa-Girls

Nicky Hager: WORD Christchurch Writers and Readers Festival

DonnaLeave a comment

WORD Christchurch Writers and Readers Festival kicks off on 27 August. We’ve asked three quick questions of festival guests:

Nicky Hager – investigative journalist and author

Cover of Other people's warsWhat (or who) are you most looking forward to at WORD Christchurch?

I enjoy the way that the Christchurch festival suits people meeting and talking in a relaxed way (compared, for instance, to the crowds at the equivalent event in Auckland).

What do you think about libraries?

It is easy to assume that everything we need to know is online, but I am often in the library and I find that librarians are a researcher’s friend.

Share a surprising fact about yourself.

 I sing in a choir.

Laurence Fearnley: 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:

Laurence Fearnley

Cover of Where the rekohu bone singsWhat (or who) are you most looking forward to at WORD Christchurch?

I am looking forward to catching up with a number of New Zealand authors I admire: Tina Makereti, Charlotte Randall, Carl Nixon, Breton Dukes, Liam McIlvanney and Owen Marshall. I am always interested to hear authors speak about their craft – rather than simply hearing about their latest book, or their subject matter. Charlotte Randall has a fantastic ear for spoken language and is extremely skilled in her handling of pace – which I think must be difficult when dealing with characters who are restricted (captive) in some way. Tina Makereti’s novel impresses me for its handling of voice and time-scale – that she creates a circular type conversation between characters rather than a fragmentary leap from one time and location to another. Breton’s stories are interesting for the way he handles contrast – the mix of the tightly controlled and the open ended which comes through in structure, plot and character. I like the way Liam McIlvanney plays with atmosphere and mood, using a combination of city-scape and character to build tension. And Carl Nixon and Owen Marshall are both just wonderfully skilled authors – understated and subtle, able to get beneath the skin of their characters, brilliant at capturing the ‘ordinary’.

What do you think about libraries?

I grew up in Christchurch and from an very early age went to the city library on the corner of Worcester Street and Oxford Terrace. I remember the wonderful issues desk, the smell of books and the joy of being allowed in the adults section to browse the art books. My parents used to hire paintings from the library – a favourite was by Trevor Moffitt. The thing I still love about any library is being able to get lost amongst the shelves. There are such treasures to be found in the open stacks…all the weird and wonderful books, books that people have laboured over both in the writing and the reading. There is always a great sense of anticipation when entering a library.

Share a surprising fact about yourself.

When I was a kid I wanted to be an actor and I went to drama classes run by Neta Neale at the old malthouse in Sydenham for eight years. I would have continued going but when I was 13 one of the (very nice) boys asked me out and I was so rattled that I figured it was easier to stop going to drama than deal with him. I think writing has been my compensation – as it allows me to get into character, make up stories, and, in a way, perform. I think acting and novel-writing have a great deal in common and I’m always interested by people who have crossed over from one to the other.

Cover of The hut builder Cover of Mother's Day Cover of Edwin + Matilda

Ruth Reichl: 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:

RuthRuth Reichl – writer, food memoirist

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

It’s such an amazing line-up of impressive writers, people I’ve admired for such a long time.  But the person I’m most looking forward to meeting is Meg Wolitzer; I’ve read (and loved) everything she’s written, we have many friends in common – including her mother (also a wonderful novelist) – but we’ve never met.

What do you think about libraries?

They’ve saved my life so often, I’m so grateful that they exist.  And I’m especially impressed with the way they’ve reshaped their mission in modern times, becoming an important part of the social safety net.

Share a surprising fact about yourself.

I am miserable if I don’t have a cat.

Cover of Delicious Cover of Garlic and sapphires Cover of Not becoming my mother