Indie authors to unite at DIY fest

‘‘There is no market for independent and self-published books.’’

Authors trying to get their books published are facing ever increasing difficulties.

Fed up with road blocks, authors are now turning to DIY measures and the growing independent book publishing industry.

The NZ Book Festival, hosted in Mt Eden, is a celebration and congregation of the nation’s independent publishers and authors.

Belmont resident Louise de Varga founded the fair after several failed attempts to get her book published.

‘‘There was a need for this,’’ De Varga says.

‘‘There is no market for independent and self-published books.’’

‘‘Indie’’ is the contemporary word for an independent book author.

In other words, an author fed up of being shut out of the publishing business that seems to be only interested in the next United States blockbuster, De Varga says.

‘‘There’s a difference between indies and publishers.’’

This year marks the third return of the fair, which is growing in size each year.

‘‘The festival attracts authors from all over New Zealand, from as far away as Oamaru.

‘‘The first year we had 90 exhibitors, the second we had 120,’’ she says.

Dubbed the world’s biggest book-signing event, the NZ Book Festival is also a treasure trove for readers.

‘‘Readers deserve to have the full range of books available to them,’’ De Varga says.

‘‘If bookstores are not going to supply them, then people have to do it themselves.’’

Kapowai the Dragonfly’s Birthday is De Varga’s latest book, the first in a series about the journey a dragonfly goes through in life.

De Varga hopes the fair will encourage more people and remind them not to get disillusioned with their writing.

‘‘A lot of people have a story, but they don’t know what to do with it next.

‘‘The fair is how we move those people forward.’’

The NZ Book Festivalruns November 5, from 10am till 4.30pm at Mt Eden War Memorial Hall, Dominion Rd.

A Gala Night also runs on November 4 from 6pm at The Horse & Trap, 3 Enfield St, Mt Eden. Visit nzbookfestival.co.nz for more information.