Press Release – Craig Potton Publishing

Deer Stalker’s Visual Diary Inspires Biography & Exhibition

An illustrated diary kept by a deer hunter during 1939 and 1940 lies at the heart of an exciting new biography to be published by Craig Potton Publishing this month.

Click for big version.

Stag Spooner: Wild man from the bush – The story of a New Zealand hunter – artist by Chris Maclean is the story of Neville ‘Stag’ Spooner who grew up in the Wairarapa during the Great Depression. His father was an enthusiastic carver, musician and hunter who taught his whole family to shoot and also encouraged their artistic abilities. Read more »

Press Release – Creative New Zealand

Established and mid-career New Zealand writers are invited to apply for the Katherine Mansfield Menton Fellowship 2013. Read more »

August 16, 2012

By Steve Whitehouse

Shock Resignation Shakes NZ’s Literary Scene

New Zealand’s world of books is reeling today after the manager of the national literary team announced he was stepping down after the failure of any of the squad to make the Booker Prize long list.

At a packed press conference in Cambridge, C.K.Stratford said the development was “more than disappointing.” He believes “it is time to make way for new ideas to rejuvenate the team” which has received $2.3 million in lottery, Arts Council and government funding since 2009.

“The days when entries had to have correct grammar and make sense have passed,” said Mr Stratford. “What we need is new blood — possibly a post modernist. Also, we’re not quite sure where the money has gone” Read more »

Speaking in Tongues: Michael Hofmann

In the year New Zealand takes centre-stage at the Frankfurt Book Fair, it’s a pleasure to present one of the world’s most highly-esteemed translators of German literature. Michael Hofmann has translated many of the greats (Roth, Brecht, Kafka, Eich, Süskind), including his own father, the novelist Gert Hofmann. He is an award-winning poet in his own right, as well as an astute poetry critic and editor. He appears in conversation with Bill Manhire.

Date: Monday 13 August
Time: 12.15-1.15pm
Venue: The Marae, Level 4, Te Papa (please note that no food may be taken onto The Marae).

Writers on Mondays is presented with the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, and additional support from Circa Theatre, City Gallery Wellington and the New Zealand Centre for Literary Translation at Victoria University. These events are open to the public and free of charge.

Press Release – Patrick Maher

An interesting story has emerged out of Thailand where an author was trapped in the devastating 2011 Thai floods for five weeks. Patrick Maher, an international school teacher, found himself stuck in his house on a small strip of dry land with his wife … Read more »