Headliner announced for Marlborough Book Festival
A top fiction writer is set to talk about her award wining novel as a successful local book festival marks its tenth year.
Emily Perkins won the Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction for her novel Lioness at the 2024 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards in May.
The talented writer is headlining at this year’s The Marlborough Book Festival, talking in depth about her latest book, her writing career to date and alongside fellow writer Sue McCauley, on a panel called Turning Points.
Described by judges as a searing and urgent novel crackling with tension and intelligence, Lioness explores wealth, power and the search for self.
Festival trustee Sonia O’Regan says a fabulous line-up of guest writers have been arranged, with some new events included too. “This is the festival’s 10th year and it seems like an excellent time to look back and consider how we move forward,” she says.
A poetry evening is new to this year’s line up and will be held at Small Town Winery on Horton St, Blenheim, at 8pm on Saturday, 27
July.
New Zealand Poet Laureate Chris Tse and Tayi Tibble, who are at the forefront of a generational and cultural shift in New Zealand poetry, will talk with local librarian Tania Miller about their poetry and their not-so-secret agenda to win people over to poetry.
Also coming is Vitale Lafaele, whose memoir A Canoe Before the Wind, tells the story of his family immigrating from Samoa when he was a boy.
His book tells of the challenges he faced and his experiences as an SAS officer and high-ranking police officer before he experienced a career-ending stroke. Entrepreneur, author, speaker, and coach Fletcher McKenzie will discuss his book From the Pilot’s Seat in a session sure to appeal to anyone who loves flying and aviation. Des Ashton will interview Fletcher. Anna Smaill, Bex Bell, Lauren Keenan, Nic Low, Nici Wicks, Peter Jerram, Rachael King, Sue McCauley, and a panel of Marlborough-based romance writers, Courtney Ieremia writing as Courtney Clark Michaels, Rina Pinker writing as Cleo Browne, Sarah Thornley writing as Shaye Torrel, and Sue Mackay are also set to speak over the weekend.
The Marlborough Book Festival is run by a charitable trust and aims to celebrate writers and readers with an inspiring, creative event over a winter’s weekend in Marlborough.
Some of the visiting authors will speak with school students while in town to inspire local students, providing a chance for local school students to hear from writers in person.
Sonia says the festival is deeply grateful for the generosity of sponsoring businesses and funders: Astrolabe Wines, Cloudy Bay, Dog Point Vineyard, Lawson’s Dry Hills, Godfrey Cheathem Arts Residency, Jim Tannock Photography, Gascoigne Wicks, McKendry Motors, PaperPlus Blenheim, Marlborough District Council’s Marlborough Creative Communities Scheme, Pelorus Trust and the Rata Foundation. The Marlborough Book Festival runs from 25-28 July at ASB Theatre Marlborough, Marlborough Library at Te Kahu o Waipuna and Small Town Winery. Ticket prices vary, from $15 to $40. View the full programme, and purchase your tickets here: https://www. marlboroughbookfest.co.nz