dovegreyreader scribbles

Offspringette @ The Auckland Writers and Readers Festival finally

Sunday 15^th May, 2011

So with some sadness, it's my last day in Auckland. To have the opportunity to meet and listen to so many inspiring writers had really invigorated me, and this morning was set to be no different. I had picked two last events to attend, and they would prove to be, for me, the most powerful.

Dr Izzeldin Abuelaish was born and raised in a refugee camp in the Gaza Strip. Working and studying hard, as happily married man and father of seven, he grew to be a successful and respected fertility doctor based in the Gerner Institute at the Sheba hospital in Tel Aviv. In 2009, tragedy struck. His wife died of undiagnosed leukaemia, and three months later, two of his daughters and a niece were killed when a missile hit their bedroom during an Israeli incursion. A third daughter was killed when a second missile hit. A fourth daughter was left bleeding profusely, desperately injured.  In the melee, Abuelaish managed to call ambulances and even spoke heart-rending words to a TV journalist live on Channel 10 in Tel Aviv, as he cried for help. A more sad tale, I have yet to hear.

Yet through all this, Abuelaish has managed to overcome. To overcome his pain and his loss to write “I Shall Not Hate”, “a necessary lesson against hatred and revenge.” (Elie Wiesel).  Sitting through this hour-long discussion of his book, hosted by New Zealand Herald editor Tim Murphy, I was transfixed. Eloquent, and able to cut to the very heart of the matter of what it is to not only survive, but rebuild, Abuelaish described the days after the loss of a significant part of his family, the road to recovery and his feelings on the placement of blame for his suffering:

“I shall not use the same weapons as them, I will not. I will not fire bullets, I will send love.”

Not a dry eye in the house. The question and answer session was filled with kind welcomes from the Kiwis, and the sort of sensible, unabashed discussion of world issues that you want to hear at book events. Phenomenal.

Half an hour later, I was downstairs waiting for the second of my long-awaited events: Graphic Novels, Comics and Cartoons. Hosted by award winning cartoonist Adrian Kinnaird, fellow artists Ant Sang, Chris Slane, and Dylan Horrocks were joined by writer and comic book doctoral scholar Karen Healey in a fascinating discussion of their working processes, the industry and the future for the industry worldwide.

Ant Sang kindly took us, a keen audience comprising somewhat of comic geeks and art enthusiasts, through his latest graphic novel, “Shaolin Burning”, and it was a delight. Using a variety of cinematographic narrative models to base his planning around, all gloriously screened for us in fine detail on two big screens either side of the stage, we traced the interactions of his key protagonists through to the finished product. I could see more than a few adult men getting boyishly enthused by this, and predicted a huge line at the signing stall for this friendly, down-to-earth man with a passion for homebrewed comics. Sang even stated that if he ever had the chance again, he’d return to his roots by photocopying and hand-stapling his independent work. At this point, those adult men just about died and went to comics heaven.

Chris Slane’s and Matt Elliott’s “Nice Day For A War” is based on the experiences of one Kiwi soldier in the Great War.

Part graphic novel, part illustrated history, the whole book is rendered in glorious watercolours, and is based on the diaries of Elliott’s grandfather, Corporal Cyril Elliott. Filled with photographs, factual documents, and a desire to stick to the truth, the book is a thing of beauty, and hearing how Slane organised his work using a spreadsheet to keep track of things illustrated (see what I did there) how easy it is for artists now to blend the painting skills of old with the logistical tools of today.

(Mother interrupts again... as in life...to say that Offspringette was deeply moved to experience her first ANZAC Day in New Zealand this year, dawn to dusk memorials)

An institution in New Zealand, Dylan Horrocks’ seminal graphic novel “Hicksville” has practically become part of the literary canon here, and his descriptions of life as an artist in the male-led world of DC Comics were witty, insightful and more than connected with Healey’s version of events as the co-founder of Girl-wonder.org, a site dedicated to the promotion of the female role in the comic book world. The two had a wonderful discussion of the inner workings of the decision making process surrounding Batgirl and her various demises. The audience were loving it and so were the speakers, a great discussion, asking questions that needed to be asked. Well done to all involved, I count it as my favourite event – purely for selfish reasons though (dovegreyreader can attest to my comic book passion)!

After the event finished, I bumped into Matt who had been at the comics talk too, and eventually Deborah, who introduced me to some of her New Zealand book world colleagues. I had a good yarn with a good few people. That seems to be the way things go at AWRF, lots of people having a good ol’ gossipy chinwag about books. Really great to see so much discussion going on, and it is clear that the Kiwis really do love to talk about what they’re reading.

We left Matt with a flatload of dubious gaming sorts, lassoed Diane for the return journey, and headed back to the Bay and Napier after a quick tea stop, full of joy at a weekend well spent. Deb, I don’t know how she did it – survived on muesli bars and adrenaline mostly. I would like to thank the gods of fast food for providing me with the calories I needed to get through the day. I would like to thank Dovegreyreader (thanks mumsie!) for arranging the press pass through AWRF, and to all the organisers and publicists for helping me get around such a well set-up and managed event.

From start to finish, world class.

(and mother's thanks to daughter for making me feel as if I have been sitting right next to you enjoying all this too x)

Offspringette @ The Auckland Writers and Readers Festival again

Saturday 14^th May, 2011

After a good night’s sleep, I arose to a deep discussion surrounding the quality of the previous night’s play. Verdict – good but with room for improvement. Perhaps today would make it all better for my new found friends.

We had separate plans for the day, with Deborah hitting up A Wordy Day Out to meet and support Young Adult authors and following my right brain, I went to the Wordy Workshops, where I joined a Creativity Workshop led by Kathryn Burnett.

After getting lost copious times, I eventually ended up on a mezzanine level away from the main drag of the festival, in a room filled with long tables covered in white tablecloths, as we were perhaps there for a wedding reception, or some sort of ex-servicemen’s dinner. Fortunately for me, I was in the right place and sat down to await my mind being opened.

Sadly, I had forgotten the required sheets of paper we were asked to provide (I did get a press pass, I shouldn’t complain), so this is the point in the festival where my programme becomes completely filled with random turquoise scribbles (Lamy Safari, how you say…FTW?) of increasingly more and more bizarre rantings.

Kathryn led us through a series of mind opening exercises, designed to ensure we forgot our logical mind and just concentrated on the fun stuff of creating, without boundaries or thought. For the next two hours, we were stretched in all directions, following multiple ideas from a flash thought through to something that might almost have been useable.

What I learned from the whole experience was that writers have a tough time of it, and that coming up with a clear idea is a long process of trial and error. I came up with hundreds of thoughts and ideas in the time we had, and I learned a lot. A very worthwhile experience, but as I discovered afterwards, incredibly draining! How do these writers do it?

I arrived late back at the Centre, too late to catch the Antarctica talk by Jane Ussher and Steve Braunias. Fortunately though, I was in for a treat when I met with Deborah’s mentor, Tessa Duder and her partner and a friend. Imagine my joy when they all turned out to have superior Antarctic and shipping experience. The talk of dog teams, harsh polar life and the state of the American’s ice cream machine left me wide eyed and sparks flying around my mind. If there’s one thing I love, and my mother will confirm this, it is the promise of adventure. A fantastic way to wrap things up at the Festival’s second day.

After a trip to the supermarket, it was a gourmet four course dinner for us back at the apartment, one I struggled to finish. Cheese and crackers, more of the delicious pumpkin soup (I defy any fresher in the UK to make such fine soup from scratch), chicken kebabs and then sticky toffee puddings. I didn’t make it to pudding, I’m not sure if they did either. I barely managed to crawl back to my bed to the relative safety of my iPod and the dulcet tones of The Cure’s Robert Smith lulling me into a deep and satisfying slumber.

Final day tomorrow.

Offspringette @ The Auckland Writers and Readers Festival

So whilst I'm off playing in Fowey at the du Maurier Literary Festival ...and can I say that this festival just gets better and better, a really great and varied line up this year, I'm sending you all off on a trip to the Auckland Writers and Readers Festival in the company of Offspringette. She's petite and she walks very fast so I hope you can all keep sight of her and keep up.

Auckland Writers and Readers Festival: Blog Journal

Offspringette Reporting!

Thursday 12^th May, 2011

Leaving Hawke’s Bay on a warm and sunny afternoon, I had high hopes for our escape from the country. Nestled into the soft leathery expansive front seat of the car being piloted by one of New Zealand’s most fascinating children’s authors, Deborah Burnside, I felt sure that this, dear readers, was going to be a winner.

In the back, also nestled, amongst carefully wrapped parcels of chicken sandwiches complimented by a home grown avocado relish, was Diane Hebley, a long-standing member of New Zealand’s literary community and a proponent of writing for young people.

The conversation flowed in all directions, and as we made our way along the Thermal Explorer Highway, some 400km of chipseal road, I got the sense that I was on rather an intellectual road trip. Even the toilet breaks felt learned.

At Taupo, Deb suggested we took the opportunity to see the Huka Falls in daylight, and what a massively fast and aggressive-moving body of water it was. Standing on the bridge overlooking the Falls, I was reminded of the time I’d spent visiting the Kayaker in Canada, and how he might laugh at these and say “Pffft. Easy!” I wouldn’t find it easy, I’d find it terrifying. But that is why he goes down rivers and I skate up mountains.

Arriving in Auckland to the centrally-placed apartment Deborah and her husband Robert rent for their talented computer animation student son Matthew, I was struck by how clever Auckland feels. All these tall buildings, polished and clean and full of brains. Oh, and how much I wanted to dive bomb off the balcony into the lengths pool four floors below my feet.

Charging up my iPod Touch (a tracking device provided by dovegreyreader), now containing the AWRF ‘app’, a handy portable way to follow the programme of events (I still carried the paper one with me anyway), I hit the hay, to the sounds of the Auckland student body whooping it up on what must have been another discount drinks night.

The question is, is AWRF ready for the Offspringette?

Friday 13^th May, 2011

Friday dawned early for me as I spent the night tracking the progress of a friend across the Pacific on said iPod. Very exciting and interesting that I can do all these things with this device, but incredibly sleep depriving for one who is interested in everything. With a busy first day of the festival ahead, it was tough luck for me, as Deborah knocked on my door at the strike of 7am to enquire regarding a cup of tea. 

I should let you know at this point that I met Deborah and discovered her incredible story at roller derby. I say this because it was exactly the roller derby that led to our slow aching progress to the Aotea Centre. Deborah has damaged her knee, and I too am carrying an injury, from this game of female stock car racing on rollerskates. Proudly we strode with our war wounds, discussing the events we might like to see.

After a brief visit to pick up tickets and write my own access all areas pass, our first stop was the festival’s first morning event in the main theatre: a talk by Carolyn Burke on her Edith Piaf biography, “No Regrets”.  On a stage decked out with palms, carefully thought out lighting and a bronze and orange colour scheme with a big screen behind her to broadcast to the masses, Burke embarked on transporting us back to Piaf’s era, full of the sound of street song, and smoky Champs-Elysees caberet.

Tracking the rise and fall and rise and end of one France’s most colourful musical characters, the presentation we were treated to, a mix of readings, sounds and finally video, left me with the feeling that Burke had really fallen in love with this project. And it was clear by the size of the signings queue and the busy throng around her book at the festival stall, that this had rubbed off on the audicence. Bravo. First event down, success!

(Mother interrupts here to say to daughter, do you remember we saw Edith Piaf's grave in Pere Lechaise cemetery on that trip to Paris...or were you too busy looking for Jim Morrison??)

Deborah and Diane then travelled to see Madhur Jaffery’s talk on Climbing The Mango Trees and I wish I’d been with them as apparently it was fantastic and they could have listened to her all day. Jaffrey’s compelling voice came out not only in her readings but also in her conversation with writer Alexa Johnston. I know of Jaffery from her cookery work, but she has led quite the life, and I’m sure anyone interested would find her book a great read.

I took the time between events to get a feel for the festival as it geared up for the weekend. Two large bookstalls on the upper and lower levels, coffee stands, seated areas, free wi-fi (yes!), and generally very friendly people everywhere. Especially near the outside cafe, which I felt was a little too pricey for my tastes, hence my needing to duck out to procure cheap and faster alternatives.

Then it was straight back into a session in the lower room with three of New Zealand’s South Island female writers: Laurence Fearnley (The Hut Builder), Emma Neale (Fosterling) and Charlotte Randall (Hokitika Town). The discussion centred around the male characters central to the plot in each novel, and the ways in which the authors set about bringing out their individual motivations. Fearnley’s reading of Boden stood out for me, a shy young butcher from a small 1940’s Central Otago town who goes on to become a famous poet was enthralling, as she wore a warm hat to set the scene during a snowy section of the story. Very interesting discussion followed, and I’d urge you to check out each book to find out more.

With a couple of hours to spare I sat and took in my surroundings again, now changed with an increased frequency of human motion, hubbub and general literary enthusiasm for all things papery and wordy. I supposed my dear mum would have been in heaven right now, and I was too in a way. I haven’t felt intellectually nourished in this way since I came to New Zealand.

Despite being the perfect candidate for many roles, I have struggled to find work here. This trip has been a journey of the mind and soul for me. After finishing a teacher training course on a high, it left me burning for adventure – and progress – and I really feel that I have, in this beautiful place, been allowed to achieve all my goals incredibly quickly, except…the job. Sitting in the comfy leather chairs in the Aotea’s lobby, I realised that I’m actually a citizen of the world at the moment, and that’s a pretty envious position. I could go anywhere, do anything, and I want to. Help me out, world?

We finished the afternoon off with An Hour With Gail Jones, an Australian author who has a wonderful sweet voice that compels you to listen to whatever it is she has to say. And what she has to say is quite simply fantastic in its scope and breadth. How that woman manages to describe a single second in time in such detail is beyond me, and we listened, enthralled. Her most recent book Five Bells describes the intertwining movements of 4 (or maybe 5) characters on a single day at Sydney’s Circular Quay and from the reading Jones gave, you’re in for a powerful read.

Capping off the day in style, I chased after Deb as she confidently strode through lines of traffic waving her crutch as an excuse to get through to a sandwich bar on the other side of the street. We had nary 10 minutes before the next presentation, and her suggestions to the sandwich maker went unheeded, causing much hilarity when she tried to suggest he speed up.

Taking said sandwiches under cover of handbag into the main theatre (dovegreyreader would surely approve), we sat at the back and munched our way through a Kim Hill (NZ radio personality) hosted discussion with New York Times Science Editor Barbara Strauch on “Secrets Of The Brain”. It was laugh out loud (or splutter sandwich out loud for us) funny, and we learned that the key to our brain’s survival was exercise.

Justly proud of ourselves, we marched all the way home, where I promptly passed out early, leaving Deborah and Matt to take a trip to the theatre. I did however take the opportunity to quaff down some pumpkin soup that was laid on for me. She’s taught that boy well.