Hamilton Book Month
http://hamiltonbookmonth.wix.com/2017
hamiltonbookmonth@gmail.com
A month long celebration and events for writer’s professional development and enjoyment.
Cracking the code: How to get published online and get paid for it
Come and hear the benefits of writing online and how to build your online reputation as a writer
from Angela Cuming, Dani Nicholson and Gary Farrow. Find out what to write, how to pitch and where
to get published. Learn how to engage with your online audience through social media and build a
network with other writers. Find out how to get paid!
At Lido, Centre Place, 501 Victoria Street, Thursday 3 August, 6.30-8pm, Free
Museum Storytelling
Waikato Museum is running storytelling sessions. On Monday 7 August these are aimed at children
aged 0-5 years, on Wednesday 9 August these are aimed at students aged 6-12 years and on Friday 11
August these are aimed at people aged 13 years and over. These storytelling events are delivered
entirely in te reo Maaori and presented by high profile Maori role models and language advocates.
At Waikato Museum, 1 Grantham Street, Monday 7 August, Wednesday 9 August, Friday 11 August, 10-11am, 11.15-12.15pm, 1-2pm each day, Free
Travel Writers
Travel writers Chris van Ryn, Elisabeth Easther and Jill Malcolm will talk about their writing and
where they are published with chair Gail Pittaway. Our travel panel will discuss how they get
commissioned to write about travel and related topics, and how they approach this job.
At Lido, Centre Place, 501 Victoria Street, Saturday 12 August, 12-1.30pm, Free
Art Books SPARK#17
Journalist and art critic Anthony Byrt talks writing, art and his new book This Model World:
Travels to the Edge of Contemporary Art which was a finalist in the General Non-Fiction category of
the Ockham New Zealand Book Awards and was shortlisted for the Cornish Family Prize for Art
and Design Publishing at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne. He writes for
international art media, is a regular feature writer and columnist for Metro, and is a contributing
editor to Paperboy.
At Events Room 1, Gallagher Hub, Wintec, Tuesday 15 August 1.30-2.30pm, Free
Opinion Writing SPARK#17
Alex Casey wrote for The Filminist blog for Flicks NZ and after being spotted by Duncan Greive,
Alex jumped to a smaller screen and is now involved with The Spinoff as a television writer,
turning pop culture shows into platforms for discussion. Join us for her workshop on the ins and
outs of opinion writing, and you might hear a little about her involvement with the On the Rag
podcast too.
At PG.18, Wintec City Campus, Thursday 15 August 3-4.30pm, Free
Waikato Children’s Literature Association seminar
The Waikato Children’s Literature Association seminar The Publishing Journey features Des Hunt, Tom
Moffatt and Kat Merewether. More details on the seminar (including how to register by 14 August and
become a WCLA member) are on the seminar brochure attached to our website.
At Southwell School Library, 200 Peachgrove Rd, Saturday 19 August 9.30-
3pm. $30/$40/$55
Topics, Techniques, Targets: Writing for Kids and Young Adults
Local Authors
Local authors will talk about how they wrote and published their books for 3-4 minutes each and
then there will be time at the end when you can approach authors you are particularly interested in
for a longer chat. Please email hamiltonbookmonth@gmail.com if you are interesting in joining
other authors to talk about your book. Some books will be available for sale and author signing
afterwards so bring some cash.
At Lido, Centre Place, 501 Victoria Street, Saturday 5 August, 12-1.30pm, Free
Women Writers Panel
Come along and hear our women writers Catherine Chidgey, Nicky Pellegrino and Danielle Hawkins in
conversation with chair Catherine Robertson. These best selling and award winning authors will read
their work and answer questions from our chair and the audience. This event is supported by Poppies
Bookshop with books for sale and signing.
At The Meteor, 1 Victoria Street, Thursday 10 August, 6.30-8pm, Free with complementary glass of
wine.
Song Writing SPARK#17
Hollie Smith is a prolific hardworking singer/songwriter and performer, and has always maintained a
highly respected reputation of creating music with the upmost integrity & passion, not to mention
her incredible live performances
and powerhouse vocals. In 2006 Hollie broke through with Bathe in the River and has gone onto
release three number 1 albums. Following the opening you’ll be able to get some further insights at
a Q&A session with strictly limited spaces.
At Events Room 1, Gallagher Hub, Wintec, Monday 14 August 9-10am, Free
Book Design SPARK#17
Graphic artist, typographic illustrator and book designer Sarah Maxey is joining us to encourage
you away from your computers and into the world of hand lettering. You’ll learn about techniques
and specialist materials, with plenty of opportunities to let your inner hand lettering artist
loose, and create a couple of works to commemorate your new skill. Sarah has over 20 years of
experience in designing and producing books for both arts organisations and literary publishers,
and was awarded the Purple Pin at the Best Awards in
2011, the highest graphic design award in New Zealand.
At X block, Wintec City Campus, Tuesday 15 August 3-4.30pm, Free
PechaKucha SPARK#17
PechaKucha is a night of random and magical presentations in the 20×20 format, involving a
slideshow of 20 images, each of which is shown for 20 seconds. The word itself means ‘chit chat’ in
Japanese. The night will be hosted by Hamilton’s very own Richard Swainson, with $10 door sales
(cash only). Doors open at 6.30pm with a 7.30pm start.
At The Atrium, Wintec City Campus, Tuesday 15 August 6.30-10pm, $10
Poets
Poets Bob Orr, Vaughan Rapatahana and Stephanie Christie will read their poems and talk about their
writing at a National Poetry Day event. Books and zines will be available for sales and signing. At Creative Waikato, 131 Alexandra St, Hamilton, Friday 25 August 1-2pm, Free
David Hill will lead a workshop for people interested in writing for kids and young adults. You are
welcome to bring anything you have written. No experience is necessary, only willingness to have a
go..David is a reviewer, fiction writer, playwright and children’s writer. Born in Napier, he spent
fourteen years teaching before writing full-time. His many published books range from studies on
poetry, to teenage fiction, for which he has received numerous prizes. His first young adult novel
won the 1994 Times Educational Supplement Award for Special Needs. He received the Esther Glen
Award at the 1998 LIANZA Children’s Book Awards for his novel Fat, Four-Eyed and Useless. He received the 2002
Children’s Literature Foundation Gaelyn Gordon Award for a Much-Loved Book, the 2003 LIANZA Esther
Glen Medal, the 2013 NZ Post Junior Fiction Award, and the 2013 LIANZA Librarian’s Choice Award. He
has had books translated into Estonian, French and Chinese. David has contributed stories,
articles, reviews and plays to newspapers, radio and most New Zealand journals, including Landfall,
NZ Listener and the School Journal, as well as overseas.
At Wintec’s City Campus, Collingwood St, Hamilton, Saturday 26 August 9-12 noon, $20,
pre-registration necessary to hamiltonbookmonth@gmail.com