Events Calendar

22 Sep 2009

The New Zealand book trade loves to celebrate, and there's always something happening somewhere. Below are just some of the events happening around the country. Go along and support your industry!

To have your event or author tour listed here, please email the details to Anna Hutchison.

Quick links: April, May, June, July, August, September

OCTOBER 2010
OCTOBER 17 AKL. Ladies' Litera-tea. The line-up of potential authors is stunning! We won’t choose too many this year - but there will still be an over-abundance of cakes!! Buy tickets from the Women's Bookshop, Ponsonby.
SEPTEMBER 2010
SEPTEMBER 6 WLG. 12.15 – 1.15pm, Te Papa Marae. Harry Ricketts and a panel of sports writers discuss New Zealand sports and the people who write about them. Don’t miss this chance to hear some terrific speakers, and get Harry and other contributors to sign copies of The Awa Book of New Zealand Sports Writing; it will be on sale in the Te Papa store.
SEPTEMBER 9-12 CHC. The Press Christchurch Writers Festival
SEPTEMBER 12, CHC. 12, 3.30–4.30pm at the Town Hall complex. Harry Ricketts and a panel of sports writers (including Pauline O’Regan!) talk about The Awa Book of New Zealand Sports Writing. Pauline claims to be the only nun ever to have been carried from a rugby field.
AUGUST 2010
AUGUST 7, AKL. Elena de Roo and Brian Lovelock invite you to the lauch of their book, The Rain Train, published by Walker Books Australia. Mainly Toys, 539 Mt Eden Rd, AUCKLAND Saturday 7th August 2010, 4.00pm RSVP by 2 Aug: elena@elenaderoo.com
AUGUST 15, WLG. Free Family Day in Wellington's Civic Square. Children’s book authors, illustrators and storytellers perform in a jam-packed schedule for kids and their caregivers at the Storylines Free Family Day. Activities change every 30 minutes on Sunday 15 August, 10am – 3pm, in the Old Town Hall and Capital E in Central Wellington’s Civic Square. It’s free fun for all the family. For more information visit: www.storylines.org.nz
AUGUST 16. LIANZA Children’s Book Awards Ceremony
AUGUST 16-22. LIANZA Library Week
AUGUST 19, WLG, 6-7.30pm. The Book Council and Penguin New Zealand present the launch of Katherine Mansfield: The Story-teller. Click here for more information. 19th August 2010, 6.00pm - 7.30pm at St Andrews on the Terrace, 30 The Terrace, Wellington. Ticket: $14.00 (NZBC members: $12.00). Tickets available from the Information desk, Wellington Central Library or Marsden Books in Karori, and on the door on the night. For more information visit the Book Council website or contact Noel Murphy: Phone: 04 499 1569, Fax: 04 499 1424, Email:director@bookcouncil.org.nz.
AUGUST 22, AKL. Book launch of: Sensational Survivors by Sandra Morris to be held at the Storylines Book Festival Family day at Aotea Centre Sunday 22 August 11.30am- 12pm in the Books Breakout, Level 3, Upper NZI.
AUGUST 31 - SEPTEMBER 4. Taranaki Children’s Book Festival This year the Festival will be launched in Stratford on the 31st of August. There are author and illustrator visits to schools during the week and a Gala Finale at The Hub in Hawera on 4 September. Click here for more info.
JULY 2010
JULY 2 WLG 6-7pm. Shake your literary groove thing - Learn some real hot dance moves with the infamous Real Hot Bitches, during a special literary mix-up for Sampler Season 2010. Hilarious to watch & even better when you join in. (FREE) Museum of Wellington City & Sea, Queens Wharf, Wellington
*JULY 15 AKL. The Insatiable Moon* book launch** at Dymocks Ponsonby, 6pm. The Insatiable Moon - Mike Riddell (HarperCollins, 9781869508593)
JULY 20 AKL. 6:00 - 7:30 pm. Time Out Bookstore, Mt Eden. Mike Dickison, champion of the ukulele revival, and author of Kiwi Ukulele will give a talk about writing the book, play a couple of songs, and run a strum-along: bring your own ukuleles! All welcome, RSVP helpful, phone 630 3331 or email books@timeout.co.nz.
JULY 28, WLG, 6-7.30pm. Influences: NZ Book Council Three of New Zealand’s finest contemporary fiction writers discuss what inspires and influences them. See Fiona Farrell, Kate De Goldi and Emily Perkins in conversation, chaired by the manager of Writers & Readers Week, Laura Kroetsch. Tickets: $15.00/$12.00 (NZ Book Council members) from the Wellington Central Library Information Desk, and on the door on the night. For more information visit the New Zealand Book Council's website www.bookcouncil.org.nz City Gallery, Civic Square, Wellington Wednesday 28th July, 6 - 7.30pm One night only Daytime contact number: NZ Book Council, phone: 499 1569
JULY 28, WLG, 7pm. Heroes and Anti-Heroes- Who Do Our Young People Look Up To? David Hill, Leon Davidson, and Denis Wright discuss this with Janice Marriott at a special event brought to you by the Wellington Children's Book Association. Wednesday 28th July, 7pm at Turnbull House, Bowen Street. Free entry, all welcome.
JULY 29, WLG, 6PM. Whiti Hereaka and Huia Publishers will be launching The Graphologist’s Apprentice at the Museum of Wellington City and Sea, 1 Jervois Quay, Wellington, on Thursday, 29 July at 6.00pm.
JULY 30. National Poetry Day
JUNE 2010
JUNE 3 WLG. Ruth Paul launches *Two Little Pirates* at the Children's Bookshop, Kilbirnie, at 6pm. All are welcome. Please rsvp by email to: childbkwgtn@xtra.co.nz
JUNE 15 AKL. Peter Janssen comes to Dymocks Ponsonby on 15 June, 6-7pm. RSVP to help with catering to Ponsonby@dymocks.co.nz
JUNE 18 AKL. NZSO to perform William Shakespeare's Sonnets Unplugged. Auckland Town Hall, 1.30pm. Book at THE EDGE Adults $15/ Students $5
JUNE 19 - AUG 1,WLG. The Making of The Word Witch exhibition comes to the Museum of Wellington City & Sea, 19 June - 1 August.
JUNE 22. New Zealand Post Book Awards Finalists announced. Reader's Choice voting opens.
JUNE 24 CHC. NZSO to perform William Shakespeare's Sonnets Unplugged. Christchurch Town Hall, 9.30am. Book at TICKETEK Adults $15/ Students $5
JUNE 24 WLG. Culinary History of Cookery with the NZ Book Council at Caffe L'affare, 6-7.30pm. Alexa Johnston and Laura Kroetsch shine a light on the foods we love. Alexa is a curator and the author of, among other titles, Ladies, A Plate: Traditional home baking. Laura is a cookbook collector and the manager of Writers & Readers Week. Tickets: $16.00/$14.00 (NZBC members) from the Central Library Information Desk from Monday or door sales. For more information visit the Book Council website www.bookcouncil.org.nz
JUNE 29 - JULY 2. Bestselling author Joe Bennett will be visiting Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington and Waipukurau to promote his absurdly funny, wise and witty new book Hello Dubai. For further details please contact Gina Colcord, DDI: (09) 442 7461 gina.colcord@nz.penguingroup.com or visit www.penguin.co.nz
JUNE 30 WLG. NZSO to perform William Shakespeare's Sonnets Unplugged. Wellington Town Hall, 12noon. Book at TICKETEK Adults $15/ Students $5
MAY 2010
MAY 2-30. Allyson Gofton is touring New Zealand to promote her new book, Slow. Central Otago: Sunday 2 May Dunedin: Monday 3 May Oamaru: Monday 3 May Timaru: Tuesday 4 May Christchurch: Tuesday 4 - Wednesday 5 May Wellington: Wednesday 5 May Palmerston North: Thursday 6 - Friday 7 May New Plymouth: Friday 7 May Auckland: Sunday 9 May, Wednesday 26, Thursday 27, Sunday 30 May Click here to find out more.
MAY 4 AKL. Niki Bezzant at Dymocks Pononby. Eating In: Fabulous Food For Friends and Family a collection of healthy recipes for everyday meals.
MAY 6-9. Asian Festival of Children's Content, Singapore.
MAY 7 WLG. NZSO's In a New Light: Made in New Zealand concert at the Wellington Town Hall, with guest panel before the concert, featuring Vincent O'Sullivan.
MAY 10-18. New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards Festival.
MAY 11. PANZ After 5 Programme: 5.30pm; The Booklover, Hurstmere House, Takapuna, Auckland Will Atkinson, Sales and Marketing Director from Faber and Faber is visiting Auckland and will be our speaker. Admission: $10 (includes a glass of wine)
MAY 13-17. Auckland Readers & Writers Festival.
MAY 17 WLG. Randall Cottage Writer-in-Residence, Pat White reads poems at the Thistle Inn. NZ writer Pat White will be reading his poems as the guest poet of the NZ Poetry Society at the Thistle Inn, 7.30 pm. All welcome. Pat is settled into the cottage researching and writing his biography of Peter Hooper, and some poems on the side. He is also a keen gardener and has planted out some veges in the Randell Cottage garden. You can find out more about Pat on our website www.randellcottage.co.nz.
MAY 19. New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards Ceremony (Auckland)
MAY 20 WLG. Unity and Victoria University Press invite you to celebrate the publication of three new books...
MAY 25. Yarns in Barns - with Alexa Johnston - at Hedley's Bookshop, Masterton.
MAY 28 CHC. Christchurch Booksellers' Drinks with special guest, Alexa Johnston.Booksellers NZ invites you to a gathering of the booktrade... All members of the trade welcome. Please RSVP.
APRIL 2010
APRIL 6 AKL. Carolyn Gibson at Dymocks Ponsonby. Fries With That: How To Lose Weight & Keep It Off In An Upsized World investigates the difficulties we face today in a world where we are constantly being encouraged to upsize our meals.
APRIL 7–17 Kelvin Cruickshank’s bestselling autobiography Walking in Light was a phenomenal success, sitting on the NZ Bestsellers Chart for Non-fiction for over 13 consecutive weeks. Now he’s back and touring the country with Bridging the Gap! For further details please visit www.penguin.co.nz or contact: Gina Colcord on DDI: (09) 442 7462 or gina.colcord@nz.penguingroup.com
APRIL 11-16 Lee Child is touring New Zealand in April. Click here for details of where you can find him, or contact Jennifer Balle, Jennifer@randomhouse.co.nz, for more tour and media information.
APRIL 11–15 Nicky Pellegrino returns with a sumptuous new book, Recipe for Life (9781409100904), a delicious tale of love, food and family set under warm Italian skies. Nicky will be touring the country in April, don’t miss your chance to hear her speak. See www.hachette.co.nz for full tour details contact Gemma Finlay, Orion Publicist Hachette NZ for further information – gemmaf@hachette.co.nz
APRIL 12 & 19. AKL, CHC. Booksellers NZ Staff Training Courses CHRISTCHURCH 12 APR - Converting Browsers into Buyers 13 APR - Loss Prevention AUCKLAND 19 APR - Converting Browsers into Buyers 20 APR - Loss Prevention Registration forms can be downloaded here. Booksellers NZ aims to offer training as broadly as possible for the convenience of our members. If you would like to book an in-house session for your staff, or for a group, please call Cherie Arnott 04-815-8361 or email her on cherie.arnott@booksellers.co.nz.
MARCH 2010
MARCH 3 WLG. Random House New Zealand & Unity Books invites you to celebrate the launch of Where Your Left Hand Rests: A Collection of Poems by Fiona Kidman. To be launched by His Excellency M. Legras, Ambassador for France (Joanna Kidman will toast Fiona’s 70th birthday) Date: Wednesday 3 March 2010 Time: 6 - 7.30pm Venue: Unity Books, 57 Willis Street, Wellington Please RSVP to Random House New Zealand T : 09 444 7197; e: reception@randomhouse.co.nz
MARCH 3-4 An Evening with Xinran. Back in NZ from London, with a new book from her recent research talking to people living in China, Message from an Unknown Chinese Mother. Tickets: $12 from Ruth Ph 384 4721. Born in Beijing, Xinran is a successful journalist & broadcaster - her first book, The Good Women of China, told stories of women in rural China in the 20th century. She has lived in London since 1977. Christchurch 7.30pm, 3 March Venue: Christchurch Girls' High School auditorium, 10 Matai St West, Riccarton, Christchurch Dunedin 5.30pm, 4 March Venue: Hutton Theatre at the Otago Museum, 419 Great King Street, Dunedin
MARCH 4. New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards Finalists Announced. Children's Choice Voting opens.
MARCH 4 AKL. Cook the Books is delighted to announce that Justin North will be joining us for an exclusive customer afternoon: Thursday 4 March 2010, 2-4pm Click here for more information.
MARCH 9-14. New Zealand Post Writers & Readers Week, as part of the International Arts Festival. Find more information here.
MARCH 10–11. Award winning UK author, Sarah Waters, is visiting New Zealand to talk about her new book, The Little Stranger. 10 March – Wellington Sarah will be appearing as part of the New Zealand Post Writers and Readers Week. See www.nzfestival.nzpost.co.nz/writers-and-readers for more information. 11 March - Auckland As part of the Summer Season of International Women Writers, Sarah Waters will be speaking at the Raye Freedman Theatre, Epsom Girls’ Grammar School, Cnr Silver Road and Gillies Ave, Auckland. The event starts at 8pm. Bookings accepted by phone (09) 376 4399; email: books@womensbookshop.co.nz or secure website: www.womensbookshop.co.nz
MARCH 11-12, Award-winning writer Patrick Ness will be coming to New Zealand (Auckland/Wellington). His second book in the Chaos Walking Trilogy – The Ask and the Answer has just won the Costa Book Award for Children’s books and the third in this series, Monsters of Men, will be published in May 2010. Wellington event: 11 March 2010, 1:30 – 3.00pm Venue: Scots College, Monorghan Rd. Strathmore For bookings: The Children’s Bookshop, John & Ruth McIntyre Tickets: koha Ph 04 3873905 email: childbkwgtn@xtra.co.nz Auckland event: 12 March 2010, 7.00pm Venue: St Cuthbert’s College, 122 Market Rd, Epsom, Auckland For bookings: Jabberwocky Children's Bookshop Tickets: $5 adults/$3 children and members of Storylines Ph: 09 5244781 email: kidsbooks@jabberwocky.co.nz Patrick will also appear on 'Good Morning' on TVOne on the morning of 11 March. Click here to view! For more information, contact Juliet Izatt at Walker Books.
MARCH 13, Public Events for Booklovers in Wellington (at the Intercontinental Hotel). SEMINAR 1: So you want to run a bookshop? SEMINAR 2: Marketing your book to independent booksellers
MARCH 18 AKL. Auckland Local Publishers Forum AGM.
MARCH 20-21 WLG. Joy Cowley will conduct a weekend workshop on writing for children. This is aimed at people who are thinking seriously of writing for children, or who may have already started. The fee is $350 including morning and afternoon tea. It will run over the two days from 9am to 3.30 pm at the Wellington Girls’ College library. Further details/registrations contact Paul Maskill, phone 027 329 5501. maskillp@wellington-girls.school.nz
MARCH 23 6pm, AKL. Meet Thea Hughes. Dymocks Ponsonby has a great line up of local authors for you. Thea Hughes' Buen Camino: Beyond The Journey is the story of Ana, a young woman rejected by her mother and sexually abused by her father as a child. This is a great opportunity to ask the author any burning questions you might have and enjoy a glass of wine with like-minded people in our Three Lamps store between 6.00 pm and 7.00 pm. Although each event is free, we would appreciate an idea of numbers. RSVP to Ponsonby@dymocks.co.nz. Venue: Dymocks Ponsonby, 344 Ponsonby Road, Ponsonby See pictures from the event here!
MARCH 30 4PM, WLG. Meet Derek Landy, author of the Skulduggery Pleasant series will be signing copies of his books at The Children's Bookshop, Kilbirnie.
MARCH 31,CHC. Canterbury Poets present - Poetry in Performance: 20th Anniversary Autumn Readings 2010. Open microphone and guest readers.Wednesdays 6.30pm; $5 entry; Madras Café Bookshop, 165 Madras St – licensed and BYO. Win a $20 MCB voucher – audience vote for the Best Open Mike Poet each night. This week's guest readers: Chris Price, Marisa Cappetta, Lorraine Ritchie
FEBRUARY 2010
FEBRUARY 10-20 WLG. 84 Charing Cross Road at the Gryphon Theatre. By James Roose-Evans, adapted from the book by Helene Hanff 84 Charing Cross Road is a warm and witty play based on twenty years of correspondence between New York writer, Helene Hanff, and London antiquarian bookseller, Frank Doel. In 1949, in search of obscure English books, Hanff contacts Marks and Co. at the now-famous London address; so begins a long-distance, long-lasting epistolary friendship with Doel and others at the bookshop. Like the bestselling book and Bafta-winning film, the play is moving and funny and touches on topics from high literature to post-War rationing, the Brooklyn Dodgers to Yorkshire pudding. Bookings: http://www.stagecraft.co.nz/bookings.html
FEBRUARY 12-17 NZ Book Council Words on Wheels tour. Five top NZ writers tour Taranaki. Find out more information here.
FEBRUARY 14-18, ACCIDENTALLY SINGLE? YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE! Do your relationships fizzle out before they get started? Do you have more dating disasters than successes? John Aiken has been a psychologist for 15 years specialising in relationship advice for singles and couples. John Aiken will be conducting media interviews and participating in events in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch to promote his new book Accidentally Single: The 15 mistakes that ruin romance – and how to avoid them (9780143204213). See www.penguin.co.nz for full details or contact Raewyn Davies, Penguin Group NZ: 09 442 7463; Raewyn.Davies@nz.penguingroup.com
FEBRUARY 19 7pm WLG. Latin poetry (with English translations) will be recited at the Amphitheatre, Level 1 (7-8pm) at Te Papa. Features verse ranging from the pathos of Virgil to the earthiness of Juvenal. It is a tribute to the tragic end of the city of Pompeii. The readings will be given by academic staff and postgraduate students from Victoria University of Wellington.
FEBRUARY 19-23 To celebrate the paperback release of We Are All Made of Glue, Marina Lewycka will be on tour in New Zealand and speaking at public events. Christchurch: Friday 19th February - Evening event in association with Plains FM, 7:30pm, Our City O-Tautahi, CBD, Tickets: $12 each available from Plains FM, - Ruth (03) 384 4721 or Morrin (03) 329 9789 and Scorpio Books. Wellington: Monday 22nd February Evening event in association with NZ Book Council 6:30pm at the City Gallery, CBD. Tickets:$15 each ($12 for Book Council members) available from Wellington Central Library. Auckland: Tuesday 23rd February Evening event in association with The Women’s Bookshop. Marina kicks off 'A Summer Season of International Women Writers' at 8:00pm, Raye Freedman Arts Centre [Epsom Girls Grammar] Tickets: $15 each available from The Women’s Bookshop, (09) 376 4399 www.womensbookshop.co.nz. To arrange an interview and for further information please contact: Lyn Olds, DDI: (09) 442 7465, lyn.olds@nz.penguingroup.com www.penguin.co.nz
FEBRUARY 22 7.30pm WLG. Crime Writer Neil Cross will speak at the New Zealand Society of Authors AGM, Thistle Inn, Thorndon, Wellington (Mulgrave Street, near the Railway Station). He is the author of several novels including Always the Sun and Burial as well as the bestselling memoir Heartland. He is well known as lead scriptwriter for recent seasons of the acclaimed BBC spy drama Spooks. NZSA Members $2 \| Non-members $3
FEBRUARY 25 WLG 6-7pm. An Evening With Garth Cartwright Calling all lovers of blues, soul, funk, native music, Romany Gypsy music, country and rock'n'roll! The well-respected London-based authority on international roots music and author of Princes Amongst Men: Journeys with Gypsy musicians and the recently released More Miles Than Money: Journeys through American Music will be speaking about his wild travels and the music he fell in love with along the way. Venue: Unity Books, 57 Willis Street Wellington
FEBRUARY 25–26. Acclaimed international author, Sarah Dunant, is visiting New Zealand to promote her Italian Renaissance novels, and in particular her latest book Sacred Hearts (9781844083312). 25 February – Wellington Sarah Dunant will be talking about her books at Marsden Books, 159 Karori Road, Wellington. The event starts at 5.30pm. RSVP to (04) 476 8066. 26 February – Auckland As part of the Summer Season of International Women Writers, Sarah Dunant will be speaking at the Raye Freedman Theatre, Epsom Girls’ Grammar School, Cnr Silver Road and Gillies Ave, Auckland. The event starts at 8pm.Bookings accepted by phone (09) 376 4399; email: books@womensbookshop.co.nz or secure website: www.womensbookshop.co.nz
FEBRUARY 26 WLG. Nick Bollinger will be in Wellington signing copies of his new book 100 Essential New Zealand Albums (Awa Press) on Friday from 4-5 at Unity Bookshop.
FEBRUARY 26 AKL. Unity Books Auckland is turning 21! Come and celebrate with the team at Unity Books "& indulge in all that's good about the world: cupcakes, spot prizes & Twitter..." Click here for info on their birthday competition!