9 May 2021

Dunedin writers Vanda Symon and Heather McQuillan

From Standing Room Only, 12:15 pm on 9 May 2021
Vanda Symon

Vanda Symon Photo: supplied

Heather McQuillan

Heather McQuillan Photo: supplied

 

This week Lynn Freeman presents Standing Room Only from our Dunedin studio, in time for the Writers and Readers Festival.  New Zealand is of course extremely lucky to be able to hold festivals at all. 

Featured in this year's programme is Dunedin crime writer Dr Vanda Symon.  She wrote The Faceless, as well as a series featuring determined female detective Sam Shephard - Overkill, The Ringmaster, Containment and Bound.  

Vanda's books have been published around the world, including the UK and the US, which is why she was a popular guest at overseas literary festivals, until Covid stopped them all..

So for the Dunedin festival, Vanda wrangled five other writers for the Gala opening night event to debate the question, "What Does The Future Hold?"

Lynn also talks with Heather McQuillan - poet, Flash Fiction writer, Young Adult novellist and teacher.  

She's also this year's University of Otago College of Education Creative New Zealand Children's Writer in Residence Fellow.  

As well as her novels, Heather is also an international award-winning writer of Flash Fiction - ultra short stories - and is the director of the Write On School for Young Writers in Christchurch.