WORD Christchurch Writers and Readers Festival kicks off on 27 August. We’ve asked three quick questions of festival guests:
Yrsa Sigurðardóttir
What (or who) are you most looking forward to at WORD Christchurch?
I would very much like to attend the event Philosophy in the Gardens with Damon Young which according to the programme will be about gardens and great thinkers who have been moved by them. I am presently trying to fix up my own garden, following a visit from a relative that mentioned that she liked my “f**k the system” approach to gardening – which was not the look I was shooting for at all. So I am hoping to pick up some hints from great thinkers, hopefully not anarchists.
What do you think about libraries?
I love libraries. Ever since I was a child I have been a passionate reader. I even attempted to read a book a day for one year (no picture books allowed) and managed up until August when I got “Gone with the Wind” as a present for my 12th birthday. It was so thick, over 900 pages, that I was unable to recoup, but was unable to put the book to one side until the following January. If I had not been able to count on libraries for a constant supply of books that particular year and throughout my life, I would be in the poorhouse.
Share a surprising fact about yourself.
I am not sure if it is very surprising but I can share a secret. In addition to being an author I am employed as an engineer in the power sector. This involves a lot of meetings which are unfortunately my least favorite thing in the world. When I attend particularly dreary meetings I tend to wander off in my head and think of ways to murder people in my books. I have come up with some very good murders under these circumstances. Please do not tell my employer.
- Yrsa Sigurðardóttir appears at WORD Christchurch Writers and Readers Festival in Dark & Chilling: Sunday 31 August, 1pm
- Search our catalogue for books by Yrsa Sigurðardóttir
- Read more Festival guest picks and WORD Christchurch posts.
Christchurch City Libraries Blog 