Books
The Big Questions
What is the difference between a story and a scientific explanation? How do the two fit together, and how can we use both in our attempt to make sense of the world? These are the big questions… Audio
Helen Garner: on Death and Friendship
Australian novelist, short story writer, screenwriter and journalist, talking about her first novel for 15 years. Audio
Arthur C. Clarke Dies
The British born science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke has died in Sri Lanka at the age of ninety. Audio
David Mitchell
British novelist David Mitchell has been described as Britain's reigning master of postmodern fiction. Audio
Access All Areas: The Cabana Through The Years
Lee Prichard has written a book about Napier's legendary Cabana Hotel, one of NZ's classic live music venues - you hadn't done a national tour unless you'd played there! Trevor Reekie talks to Lee… Audio
Travel Writing
"Haven't they got anything better to do?" is the ironic subtitle of this encounter between a group of very different travel writers. Travel stories from the USA are recounted by Jo and Gareth Morgan… Audio
Non-fiction in New Zealand
A panel discussion tracing the extraordinary growth in popularity of locally-produced non-fiction. Two publishers (Peter Dowling from Reed, and Mary Varnham from Awa Press) and an expert in creative… Audio
The Art of Translation
The international publishing scene depends on translation, as it opens books to new markets and audiences. Three writers who have an intimate knowledge of translation consider the complexities and… Audio
Demon Seed and Damaged Babies
Nightmare childhoods and damaged lives are laid bare in the very different work of Lionel Shriver, author of the award-winning 'We Need to Talk About Kevin'; and Paul Broks, whose study of… Audio
Bad Dads in Meltdown
Chaired by Festival co-director Peter Wells, this lively session includes extensive reading by three very different authors whose autobiographical work provides different perspectives on growing up… Audio
Sheila Natusch: from Stewart Island to Owhiro Bay
Kim Hill's first interview with the New Zealand historian and natural science writer, brought up on Stewart Island. Audio
World War II in fiction and non-fiction
The final programme in the coverage of the Press Christchurch Writers' Festival session brings together four writers who have taken very different approaches towards representing the Second World War… Audio
Writing for Young Adults
Chaired by Kate de Goldi, this session brings together the celebrated New Zealand writer Margaret Mahy and Australian writer Marcus Zusak, discussing a wide range of issues about writing for older… Audio
The rise of historical fiction
This session brings together the New Zealand writers Rachael King, and Philip Temple, and British writer Emma Darwin to talk about why we can't get enough of historical fiction. Barbara Larson from… Audio
A novel way to make a living
Chair Owen Marshall brings together a group of writers to discuss how they make their living from writing long-form fiction. The panellists discussing the business of writing novels are Emily Perkins… Audio
The untold story of Sweetwaters
Sweetwaters organizer Daniel Keighley says there was a gang contract out on his life after the music festival Sweetwaters collapsed in 1999, leaving creditors millions of dollars out of pocket and… Video, Audio
Part 3 - The Catalogue of the Universe
The universe is not symmetrical and nor is common sense necessarily sensical - in Catalogue of the Universe, New Zealand's most loved children's author Margaret Mahy catalogues her own fascination… Audio