Publisher Roger Steele next speaker
Library friends’ event ‘not to missed’
New Year Honour’s recipient Roger Steele is Friends of Ka¯piti District Libraries’ next guest speaker. “The contribution of Roger’s publishing firm to New Zealand culture was recognised in the New Year Honours 2021 when he was became an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit,” Friends spokesman Anthony Dreaver said.
“Since 1996 he has supported hundreds of writers and poets including Hone Tuwhare, JC Sturm (Jacquie Baxter) and the late Julie Liebrich.
“As well as working with older authors, Roger has had the joy of discovering emerging talent. “This is an event not to be missed.” Last year’s speakers talked about 19th century Syria, human rights, how cleaners see the world, crime, flying, the trials of film production, writing a newspaper column, the adventures of young women, bees and their enemies, and turning bones into art.
Floods and storm on February 13 caused the postponement of the event: Cuba Poets: Writing Home.
However, thanks to Mary McCallum, publisher, it will be presented on Sunday April 3. Upcoming speakers also include:
How Kirsten Le Harivel, Maggie Rainey-Smith and Keith Westwater turn their early lives into poetry.
Anna Kenna, former broadcaster and award winning writer for children.
Sydney Shep, typographer, printer and historian of books.
Vincent O’Malley, historian of the New Zealand Wars.
Cristina Sanders, who turns history into vivid novels about Jerningham Wakefield or the wreck of the General Grant.
“An aim of Friends of Kapiti District Libraries is to close the distance between readers and writers,” Dreaver said. “Their audiences meet face to face novelists, scholars, poets and writers of memoirs, hear firsthand what inspires them, ask them about their beliefs and their lives, and appreciate the person behind the printed word.”