Going West Festival 2012 Books and Writers Weekend

Overview

In 1996, Auckland won the National Basketball League, Les Mills was the Mayor and Flight of the Albatross was released in the cinema. It was also the year the Going West Books and Writers Festival began. Now in its 17th year, the month long festival, celebrating the word in Aotearoa, features five major events.

This year’s stellar line up of writers who have been published both here and abroad will be chaired by a selection of experts. The festival will take you on a journey of serious discourse, tantalising readings and insights into the life and art of our much-loved authors, leavened with the absurd and the entertaining. It promises to be a stimulating experience for all those who attend.

Weekend and day passes are available. A weekend pass includes 20 sessions, Friday night wine and supper, two lunches, four morning and afternoon teas. Friday is 7pm - 10pm, Saturday is 9am - 10pm and Sunday 9.30am – 6.30pm. Day pass includes all sessions for that day, lunch, morning and afternoon tea.

The confirmed authors are Mirranda Burton, Sacha de Bazin, Mary Edmond-Paul, Marianne Elliott, Jacqueline Fahey, Paula Green, Tina Grenville, David Howard, Stephanie Johnson, Sid Marsh, Kirstine Moffat, Emily Perkins, Nalini Singh, Monty Soutar, Dame Lesley Max, CK Stead, Paul Thomas, Ian Wedde, Peter Wells, Lani Wendt Young and Tim Wilson.