Hone Tuwhare: Small links in the silence
With a new book of poems by the late Hone Tuwhare hitting shelves this month, Rachel O’Neill discovers a thing or two about one of our most celebrated poets, including what he cooked Bill Manhire once for lunch.
 I can’t wait to get my hands on Small Holes in the Silence: Collected Poems by the late Hone Tuwhare, especially after reading this anecdote by Bill Manhire in the latest issue of literary journal Sport.
‘When I interviewed Hone Tuwhare for Landfall in the late 80s, we met in his little cottage in Dundas Street, Dunedin. It was about 11.00 on a Saturday morning, and I had brought a couple of bottles of red wine, just to help things along. After a couple of hours of very good talk, there was a smell of burning from the kitchen. ‘Cripes!’ cried Hone–he had once been a Billy Bunter fan–and he raced to open the oven door.'
Read the full article here at www.bookcouncil.org.nz
Five Easy Questions with Lynn Jenner
 Lynn Jenner began writing at the age of 49. Her first collection, Dear Sweet Harry is the autobiography of an obsession linking the author’s own family history with that of two famous deceivers, Harry Houdini and Mata Hari. The debut collection won the 2011 NZSA Jessie Mackay Best First Book Award for Poetry.
1. In a few words, what does the name ‘Harry Houdini’ evoke for you?
To my surprise it’s three sounds-a sad violin,a hurdy gurdy organ,a circus barker-and a holey cardigan which he always wore at home.
2. Do you think poems are a bit like magic tricks, or are they more magic than trick?
I like poems which turn us back into soft skinned animals. This is magic and may involve the use of artistic devices, but I think of these as tools of a writer’s craft, rather than tricks.
3. Is it true that you had an uncle called Harry, who had a photo of Harry Houdini in togs on his mantelpiece?
I did have a grandfather called Harry. He was a fan of rugby, good business, the British Empire, a flutter, a wee dram and magic. He did have a postcard of ‘Amy Bock’, a famous bender of gender from the early twentieth century, on his mantelpiece. As a child I was fascinated by the inverted commas.
4. What are you working on at the moment?
I am half way through a PhD in creative writing at The International Institute of Modern Letters so my new writing is all part of that. It is a mixed genre piece of work on the subject of people and objects which are missing. Today I am working with a friend on translating some poems by Rose Auslaender from German into English. She was a Jewish poet from a town which is now in the Ukraine, who, after surviving the holocaust, went and lived in Germany after the war and wrote in German. Nearly everything that she loved had been destroyed. She described herself as living in ‘motherland word’.
5. What’s on your bedside table?
Inherent Vice by Thomas Pynchon. I read it just before I fall asleep. Each night I start where I left off and it doesn’t matter that I have forgotten what happened last night. It’s a relaxing read. The main character is a man called Doc who is clever and brain damaged from too much dope- all at the same time. I’m sure I met him when I lived in Dunedin in the 1970’s.
Book Council News
Improvements for Book Council members
 We’d like to let Book Council members know that we are making some changes to our membership administration.
For the past few years, new memberships, renewals and member information have been handled by a subscription agency, The Magazine Marketing Company.
From July 1, we are bringing all our membership administration back in-house. We expect this will enable us to get closer to our members, and to handle enquiries and requests more directly and efficiently.
You will receive will more information about what these changes mean in practice when your membership comes up for renewal. We will be sending this information by email if we hold a current email address, and it will include details on how you can now renew your membership and update contact information securely online.
In the meantime, you can contact us on 04 801 5546 or at members@bookcouncil.org.nz if you have any questions about membership or the Book Council’s activities.
And of course we always welcome new members. Visit www.bookcouncil.org.nz/join for more information, or call us on 04 801 5546.
What's new on bookcouncil.org.nz
Rants and Raves
 This week we feature Q&A with Chloe Lane, founding editor of Hue & Cry, in the Rants and Raves section of our website.
Hue & Cry is the hot new 'literary slash art journal' on the book scene in New Zealand, founded in 2007, and as of this month in its fifth issue. We ask Chloe a few intrigue-honed questions about Hue & Cry, increasingly recognised as a distinctive voice in the New Zealand art and literary scene.
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Review of Reviews
 Book reviews at a glance – new bestsellers and what people are saying about them.
First up in our new Review of Reviews section, we profile reviews of The Night Book by Charlotte Grimshaw, a finalist in the Fiction category of the 2011 New Zealand Post Book Awards. Check back regularly for new book reviews, gathered together in one convenient place. Next up we will profile reviews of Tim Wilson's debut novel, Their Faces Were Shining.
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Booknotes exclusive excerpt
 Stephen Daisley was recently announced the winner of the prestigious 2011 Australian Prime Minister's Literary Awards fiction prize for his novel Traitor.
New Zealand born Stephen Daisley's debut novel, Traitor, is a story of war and love, and how each changes everything, forever. It tells the story of two men thrown together by war in the battle-smoke and chaos of Gallipoli – a young New Zealand soldier and a Turkish doctor. Daisley was awarded $80,000.
We can highly recommend the book, but to get a taste yourself check out Booknotes Winter 2010 for an exclusive excerpt from Traitor.
Residency, workshop and competition opportunities
Please note this is only a sample of literary opportunities from the news page on our website:
2011 Cultural Icons & Vernacular Lounge Non-fiction Writing Competition
Cultural Icons & the Vernacular Lounge are accepting entries for ‘Iconic Encounters of a Vernacular Kind’ a non-fiction narrative competition on the topic of New Zealand’s distinctive local culture through its everyday icons.
Judged by: Graham Beattie, Federico Monsalve, Linda Blincko. Prizes include: Creative Hub Writing Course, Random House book package, publication in MORPH magazine, recorded on Jam Radio.
For more information please visit: www.culturalicons.co.nz or www.depotartspace.co.nz. Deadline: 4pm 1st of September 2011
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2011 Royal Society of New Zealand Manhire Prize for Creative Science Writing now open
 This year’s theme is ‘Chemical World’.
“I unhem creation a little, to work out the stitch”
(Vincent O’Sullivan, 2006 from the anthology Are Angels OK?)
So wrote poet Vincent O’Sullivan regarding Marie Curie’s work on radiation 100 years ago. Chemists unravel and unpick our world down to its simplest form in order to comprehend its mysteries; society bears the consequences that arise.
In 1911, Marie Curie was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry and a hundred years on we celebrate the contribution of chemistry to the well-being of mankind. You are invited to write about chemistry and our world. The length of your piece should be between 1,000 and 2,500 words. There are two categories, fiction and non-fiction. For the purposes of the competition, the fiction category covers science fiction as well as the realistic short story. The non-fiction category covers a wide range of genre from personal essays to profiles to travel writing, but entries must have substantial scientific content. Entries will be judged on their literary merits and the extent to which they engage a non-scientific audience and are accessible to the general public.
This year’s judge is Jo Randerson, a Wellington-based writer, theatre maker and cross media artist. She is the author of two short story collections The Spit Children, The Keys to Hell, and many plays which have toured both New Zealand and internationally The Lead Wait, Good Night – The End. The first 100 entries will receive a copy of the book Are Angels OK. To celebrate the competition, a free e-book ‘Shift’ can be downloaded from the competition website, which features past winner's entries.
For terms and conditions, and entry forms please visit the competition website.
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RWNZ Conference: Love & Other Crimes
This year's RWNZ conference, Love & Other Crimes, features internationally acclaimed authors expected to attract writers from many genres, including thrillers, suspense and young adult fiction. In addition, an emphasis on digital publishing-the opportunities, the pitfalls and what it means for the future of commercial fiction-is proving a big attraction for Kiwi writers.
Friday workshops, open to all-comers, will be taught by ex-special forces agent and now digital publishing expert Bob Mayer, and paranormal/fantasy (YA and adult) star Maria V. Snyder. The weekend conference keynote speaker is world-renowned thriller writer Tess Gerritsen. Mayer and Snyder will also address the weekend conference, along with several other authors, editors from NZ, USA and UK, plus a USA literary agent.
For more information, visit www.romancewriters.co.nz/conference
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Publishing for Authors - Industry Experts Share their Insights
The New Zealand Society of Authors, in association with the Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust, are pleased to offer a day of publishing workshops. This one day workshop promises to deliver insightful information from experts in the print, digital, sales and marketing sectors.
Learn more about the latest industry developments used for: Publishing and distribution to cater for a global market; E-publishing and E-books; Book and author promotion; and Writing for children.
Guest Speakers include: Steve Messenger, CEO Astra Print; Paula Browning, CEO Copyright Licensing Ltd; Sarah Gumbley, Publicist and Maria Gill, Children’s author.
Workshops held on Saturday, 20 August 2011 at the Hopetoun Alpha, Auckland. Morning and afternoon teas are provided. For bookings please contact office@nzauthors.org.nz or phone 09 379 4801.
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The Caselberg Trust Creative Connections residency
The Caselberg Trust will be funding a new Creative Connections residency at its cottage in Broad Bay, Dunedin. The residency, which will be offered on an annual basis for a period of between three and six months, is open to people residing in New Zealand, and will pay a stipend of $6000 for the successful applicant.
Applications for the 2012 Creative Connections residency open on Monday 6 June, and run through to Wednesday 31 August.
The Trust is looking specifically for projects that reach out, and make links, across a variety of creative media, professional disciplines, and/or communities relevant to the planned project.
For more information visit The Caselberg Trust website.
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 The New Zealand Book Council receives core funding from Creative New Zealand. We are extremely grateful to our funding partners, who enable us to deliver our programmes. We also value your membership, which supports our work in schools and communities throughout New Zealand. |
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The winners  of the two copies of The Larnachs by Owen Marshall, courtesy of Random House New Zealand are Sandra Archer of Otaki, and Nan Mulder of Wellington. Thank you for all your entries.
 To celebrate the release of Small Holes in the Silence: Collected Poems, by Hone Tuwhare we have two copies to give away, courtesy of Random House.
 We also have two copies of Lynn Jenner's award-winning poetry collection Dear Sweet Harry to give away, courtesy of Auckland University Press.
Enter by emailing reception@bookcouncil.org.nz with the name of the poet in the subject line, and your New Zealand postal address in the body of the email. Entries must be received by 12 noon on Friday 5th of August.
Each month an industry insider tells us about books they're looking forward to seeing in the bookshops in the weeks ahead.
This month Barbara Rosie, owner of Readaway Books in Howick Auckland, gives us her pick of August releases. Read more about the store in their Booksellers NZ member profile.
Grey's Folly by Alan La Roche (Tui Vale Publications). I'm a little biased here but looking forward to reading and selling Alan La Roche's new book on the history of Howick, Pakuranga, Bucklands, Eastern Beaches, East Tamaki, Whitford and Maraetai. Alan La Roche was responsible for the creation of the very successful Howick Historical Village, and his wealth of knowledge will make this book a must-have for the inhabitants of these areas.
 Hinterland by Caroline Brothers (Bloomsbury). I'm watching those British reality TV series of customs and border control in a different light after reading a review copy of this book. It's a heart-wrenching story that follows two young Afghan boys across Europe, hoping for a better future in the UK. You get great insight into the situation of unaccompanied children trying to cope in an adult world in foreign countries. Great courage abounds.
 African Dawn by Tony Park (Pan MacMillan). A couple of years ago we had the pleasure of hosting Australian Tony Park for a signing session on his first promotional trip to New Zealand. He spends six months of the year camping in the game parks of South Africa and Zimbabwe. His book conveys these experiences with an easy-to-read, fast-paced style about conservationists struggling to save a black rhino herd from corrupt government ministers. Read it under a palm tree on your South Pacific holiday.
New Zealand-born author Stephen Daisley has won the 2011 Australian Prime Minister's Literary Awards fiction prize for his debut novel Traitor. The award for non-fiction went to Rod Moss for his book The Hard Light of Day.
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The PANZ Book Design Awards Shortlist 2011 has been announced. You will find the complete shortlist here on the BPANZ website.
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Book designers Pieta Brenton, Sarah Healey and Spencer Levine make up the shortlist for the 2011 Awa Press Young Designer of the Year Award. The shortlisted designers’ portfolios span the glamour of architecture and fashion photography, the intimacy of poetry and the energy of children’s books, all with a demonstrable consistency of design. The winner of the Awa Press Young Designer of the Year Award will be announced at the PANZ Book Design Awards ceremony in Auckland on 25 August.
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The Text Prize for Young Adult and Children’s Writing is open to New Zealand and Australian authors and the 2011 shortlisted titles are:
- The Relic, Myke Bartlett
- The Accident, Kate Hendrick
- Wild Card, Sophie Masson
- Sparrow, Damian Morgan
- The Brothers of Turoc, Rebecca Timmis
The winner will be announced at the Australian Booksellers' Association Conference in Melbourne on Monday July 25, and on the Text website later that day. The winning book will be published by Text in mid-2012.
Please note this is only a sample of events from the events page on our website:
National Poetry Day 2011
Writers Read 2011: Brian Turner
22 July, 6.30pm
Massey University’s School of English and Media Studies and the Palmerston North City Library celebrate National Poetry Day with a reading by Brian Turner. His most recent book, Just This, won the 2010 NZ Post Award for Poetry. The reading will be preceded by drinks and nibbles at 6:30pm, and followed by a Q & A. All welcome. This is the first of several events from the Writers Read series. To find out more visit our events calendar.
Venue: Palmerston North City Library
The Press Christchurch Writers Festival
July - September, various times
Following the cancellation of two proposed festivals, The Press Christchurch Writers’ Festival is determined that local audiences won’t miss out on hearing the words of some of our best writers - just because the earthquakes ravaged the city. In July, August and September the festival is bringing some entertaining, challenging and thrilling literary events to Christchurch. Several events are listed here, and more are listed on the festival website www.chchwritersfest.co.nz.
Read Aloud: Tuesday 26 July. As part of Kidsfest, meet authors Margaret Mahy, Ben Brown, Helen Taylor and James Norcliffe.
The Silence Beyond: Wednesday 27 July. Rachael King and Lloyd Jones in conversation about The Silence Beyond: Selected Writings of Michael King. In this new book, Rachael has assembled a collection of her father’s wide-ranging, often personal and some previously unpublished essays, talks and eulogies highlighting the full scope of talents of one of New Zealand’s greatest modern thinkers.
The Larnachs. Sunday 7 August. Owen Marshall talks to broadcaster Ruth Todd, about his subtle and compelling new novel, The Larnachs, which draws on the family history of James Ludie Lanarch - the politician and self-made man who built the famous 'castle' on the Otago peninsula. A memorable piece of fiction, from one of our most talented authors, it tells a tale of intrigue, morality, judgement and scandal.
Setting the Stage for Murder: Sunday 21 August. Two award-winning American crime writers, Tess Gerritsen and John Hart, discuss their latest novels in a riveting session. This will be followed by the presentation of the Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Crime Novel by a New Zealand writer in 2010, with the finalists all reading excerpts from their thrilling tales. Presented as part of Christchurch Arts Festival.
Putting Words to the Feelings: Sunday 18 September. Five writers with strong Canterbury links – Fiona Farrell, Joanna Preston, Tusiata Avia, Carl Nixon and Charlotte Randall – reflect on their experiences of the Christchurch earthquake and how the reimagined landscape of the city and its surroundings will emerge within their writing. Presented as part of Christchurch Arts Festival
Writers on Mondays, Wellington
1 August, 12.15-1.15pm
From the country of the novel. Charlotte Randall lives in Christchurch. She was a Writer in Residence at Victoria University in 2000. Her 6th novel, Hokitika Town, was published this year by the Penguin Group NZ. Three of her earlier novels were runners-up for the Montana New Zealand Book Awards. Laurence Fearnley lives in Dunedin. She has written 8 novels, two of which have been runners-up in the Montana New Zealand Book Awards. Her latest, The Hut Builder (Penguin 2010), is part of the PhD in Creative Writing she is working on at Victoria University. Tim Wilson is well known as a TVNZ US correspondent and a print journalist. He is based in New York. His first novel, Their Faces Were Shining, was published by VUP in 2010. Chaired by Fergus Barrowman.
Venue: The Marae, Level 4, Te Papa, Cable St, Wellington
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