The last of Queenstown Lakes District Council’s (QLDC) Festival of Authors events in Wānaka will take place on Thursday evening (May 2), celebrating Jessica Howland Kany’s ‘The Runners Guide to Rakiura’.

The event series, now in its third year, brings a range of authors to the libraries across Queenstown Lakes each autumn to discuss their work, inspiration and ideas.

“It sometimes takes a while for programmes to gain traction but this festival has drawn good audiences since the beginning, and this year is no exception,” Wānaka Library assistant librarian Eve Marshall-Lea told the Wānaka App.

“It’s such a special opportunity to engage with an author about their writing process, the publishing aspects, how they research their work and to gain real insight into the development of characters they have created.”

Events have taken place across Wānaka, Frankton, Queenstown and Arrowtown libraries with the librarians all working together to create the series, Eve said. 

“Fiona Sussman spoke here at Wānaka library to a wonderfully enthusiastic audience,” she said. “She is a wonderful speaker and really engages the audience.”

Eve said Wānaka Library was looking forward to hosting Jessica, who splits her time between Wānaka and Rakiura/Stewart Island.

The latter was the inspiration for her debut novel, which one reviewer described as ‘a fabulous compendium of various writings that range from activities to do on the island [of Rakiura], poetry, Moby Dick, a set of clues, a genealogy, a treasure map’.

Other authors who have visited Queenstown Lakes libraries to give talks include Eva Wong-Ng, Leila Tovø Larsen, and Sumi Hahn; and a second tranche of writers have hosted workshops on a range of topics.

“Feedback from our attendees has been very positive, having enjoyed the informal atmosphere the library offers for these events, being able to ask questions and engage directly with the authors,” Eve said.

Jessica Howland Kany’s author talk will take place from 5.30pm-6.30pm on Thursday (May 2) at Wānaka Library.

It is a free event, but booking is required - email [email protected] or call (03) 443 0410 to reserve a spot.

Visit the QLDC libraries website to learn about other upcoming talks and workshops coming up as part of the festival.

PHOTO: Wānaka App