Day: 18 August 2018

Quick Questions with Barbara Else – WORD Christchurch

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CoverWe are asking quick questions of writers and thinkers coming to the WORD Christchurch Festival 2018 (Wednesday 29 August to Sunday 2 September).

Barbara Else MNZM is an award-winning author who also works as a manuscript assessor. She has held university fellowships and was awarded the Margaret Mahy Medal for services to children’s literature. Her latest book is Go Girl – A Storybook of Epic NZ Women.

Barbara Else. Photo credit: Caroline Davies
Barbara Else. Photo credit: Caroline Davies

What are you looking forward to doing in Christchurch?

I’m longing to see the Art Gallery

What do you think about libraries?

Libraries are treasure houses, and school librarians in particular are guardian angels.

What would be your desert island book?

My desert island book – can I just take a library?

Share a surprising fact about yourself.

A surprising fact about me? When I was little I used to borrow a particular library book again and again even though I had my own copy at home. (The Five Chinese Brothers)

Barbara Else’s sessions at WORD Christchurch Festival 2018

Margaret Mahy Lecture – Barbara Else: Go Girl Saturday 1 September 10am

Quick Questions with Megan Dunn – WORD Christchurch

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CoverWe are asking quick questions of writers and thinkers coming to the WORD Christchurch Festival 2018 (Wednesday 29 August to Sunday 2 September).

Megan Dunn writes about mermaids and contemporary New Zealand art. Her first book, Tinderbox, is about the end of Borders bookstores, Ray Bradbury and Julie Christie’s hair. But not necessarily in that order.

Megan Dunn. Image supplied.
Megan Dunn. Image supplied.

What are you looking forward to doing in Christchurch?

Whale watching with author of Leviathan, Philip Hoare. I’ll have what’s he having. Lately, I’ve been speaking to so many mermaids whose lives have been transformed by swimming with whales. But I am no mermaid, more of a big chicken. However, this is an unmissable opportunity to see whales with an expert and to try and move physically and psychologically closer to the power of the sea and our place within it.

What do you think about libraries?

I think what Ray Bradbury thinks: ‘Without libraries what have we? We have no past and no future.’

What would be your desert island book?

Tough call. It’s gotta be the one I’d write in the sand with a stick. I hope Wilson will like it.

Share a surprising fact about yourself.

I don’t eat fish.

Megan Dunn’s sessions at WORD Christchurch Festival 2018

You write funny! Friday 31 August 5.30pm FREE

Mortification Saturday 1 September 5.30pm