Memoir musings JUST THE START
Like a hotly-anticipated bestseller at the library that’s frustratingly been on loan to another reader for ages, the main event in this year’s Hamilton Book Month festival is a long-awaited one.
The 2022 festival will launch on Monday, August 1 with an event featuring acclaimed author Witi Ihimaera in conversation with Cambridge writer Elizabeth KirkbyMcLeod, on the subjects of his memoirs and writing style.
The free evening event, being held at 6.30pm in Wintec’s Atrium, was originally scheduled as part of the festival’s 2021 programme. However, Ihimaera – who lives in Auckland – was thwarted from attending thanks to Covid-19 lockdowns, which kept him confined to the northern city.
Ihimaera is arguably New Zealand’s greatest living writer. He has penned screenplays, poetry, short stories and novels, the first, Tangi, having been published in 1973. His stories Whale Rider and White Lies have been adapted for film.
Hamiltonians who have been pining for literary stimulation will find succour in this year’s scheduled events – as well as many of the country’s other top writers. The programme includes four workshops for local scribes to sharpen their skills, particularly when it comes to penning accounts of their own lives.
One of those workshops, led by
Dame Fiona Kidman, focuses on memoir-writing and is already fully booked. People who have missed out can join Kidman and fellow scribes Caroline Barron and Charlotte Grimshaw on a memoir panel chaired by Cate Prestidge on August 12.
The multi award-winning authors write in a range of genres, however it is their memoirs that have captured the public’s attention in recent times.
Another workshop on writing non-fiction books with Karen McMillan will cover everything from the planning stage, effective researching, interviewing, factchecking and getting permissions to how to get published.
Vanda Symon will deliver a crime writing workshop titled ‘‘Getting to grips with your villain’’, which will delve into the criminal psyche and the emotional underpinning of the crime: the why, the stakes, the motivations. There’s also an opportunity to investigate writing young adult fiction with Melissa Guyan, a Rototuna author who has had more than 70 books published.
Acclaimed writer Michael Bennett, whose first non-fiction book In Dark Places helped lead to the exoneration of convicted killer Teina Pora; Cambridge author Nikki Crutchley; and Angus McLean, a private investigator and former police detective, will speak at a crime-writing panel on August 19.
Zealong Tea Estate will host a food and garden panel chaired by NZ Gardener editor Jo McCarroll, which will also feature former magazine editor Wendyl Nissen and professional chef and author Ray McVinnie.
The ever popular and hotlycontested lit pub quiz will return to The Londoner on August 4, and Auteur House quizmasters Richard and Janine Swainson will put a capacity crowd through their paces.
National Poetry Day will be celebrated with emerging poets taking part in a poetry walk from the Riff Raff Statue through the central city reading their work and selling their books and zines at the final stop.
A wide variety of books and genres will be on display at another event when local authors talk about how they wrote their books and got them published. There’s also a storytelling and craft event for preschoolers; a ‘‘blokes’ book club’’ and an event called What Are Readers Reading?
Waikato University writer in residence Diana Clarke will talk with Nicky Webber about her books on anorexia, sex workers and her latest work in progress, which is about cults. More information about the book month events and how to book places at them can be found at hamiltonbookmonth.com.