Tuesday, August 07, 2012

Going West Festival 2012 Books and Writers Weekend


Going West 2012.

The ambiguity of the 2012 festival theme, "Always Almost: Never Quite", opens the door to the sometimes strange and quirky thinking that is so very "Going West". Does it refer to the traditional imperative for Kiwis to emulate the godwit's migration to northern shores? For from these still remote islands, New Zealand authors can access and seduce an international audience, so why do they still leave and return? What is the exchange that makes the overseas experience enriching and how has that changed in the age of the internet? And are there other fragile and uncertain dichotomies in the fabric of New Zealand culture?
Going West Festival 2012 Books and Writers Weekend will explore this through discussion with a cast of writers who have chosen to write and publish both here and abroad. The confirmed authors are Mirranda Burton, Sacha de Bazin, Mary Edmond-Paul, Marianne Elliott, Jacqueline Fahey, Tina Grenville, David Howard, Stephanie Johnson, Sid Marsh, Kirstine Moffatt, Emily Perkins, Nalini Singh, Monty Soutar, CK Stead, Paul Thomas, Ian Wedde, Peter Wells, Lani Wendt Young and Tim Wilson.
Expect serious discourse, tantalising readings and insights into the life and art of our much-loved authors, leavened with the absurd and the entertaining. A nod to our lyricists will erupt on Saturday evening with "Snow on the Desert Road" - iconic rocker and blues singer Rick Bryant and The Windy City Strugglers will take to the stage.
"Always Almost: Never Quite" succinctly sums up the Going West weekend - wide-ranging, unexpected, intimate and challenging. It is an experience to be shared between writers and audience in a village atmosphere on the edge of the Waitakere rain forest. It is, above all, a celebration of the word in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Download the full programme for the Going West Festival 2012 Books and Writers Weekend (2.7mb).
Hamish Keith.
Hamish Keith
Marianne Elliott, photo by Susannah Conway.
Marianne Elliot photo by Susannah Conway
Nalini Singh, photo by Deborah Hillman.
Nalini Singh photo by Deborah Hillman
Tim Wilson.
Tim Wilson

When 14-16 September
14 September, 7pm-10.30pm
15 September 9am-10pm
16 September 9am-5pm
Where 500 South Titirangi Road, Titirangi
Cost Full weekend pass $200, concession $175 (includes Friday night wine and supper, two lunches, four morning and afternoon teas and 16 sessions)
Friday gala night $40 (includes supper and wine, and three sessions)
Day pass $100, concession $80 (includes lunch, morning and afternoon tea, and eight sessions)
Single session $20, concession $15
Booking details Book online at Eventfinder (service fees apply)
Tickets are also available by calling Auckland Council on 09 301 0101 ext 42 8617 or emailing Going West .
Contact Email Going West or call Anna Fomison, Going West Books and Writers Festival project manager, on 09 301 0101 extn 42 8168

No comments: