Queenstown Writers Festival launched its programme in Wānaka earlier this week with a special event featuring two-time Ockham Awards winner Emily Perkins.

Emily discussed her new book ‘Lioness’ with Queenstown journalist Debbie Jamieson at a packed event hosted by Next Chapter Wānaka and Bookety Book Books on Monday (September 9).

Their conversation, which traversed gender roles, class, wealth, and finding inspiration in unexpected places, provided a taster of what attendees can expect at the festival, which is billed as an unmissable event for anyone who loves books, words and insightful conversation.

Queenstown Writers Festival chair Tanya Surrey said the festival started six years ago as “a bit of a whimsical idea with about half a dozen events”.

This year’s programme, in contrast, will include 20 visiting writers including non-fiction writers, poets, novelists, children’s writers, Kiwi icons, and literary legends. 

In addition to the on-stage conversations there will be writing workshops, a book launch, panel discussions, a writing competition and the return of the popular Sampler Session featuring local writers. 

“We’ve done all we can to bring a huge range of events,” Tanya said.

Historically the festival has been held over a weekend but due to growing interest, “this year the weekend is starting on Thursday,” Tanya said, and approximately 1,000 people are expected to attend.

The festival will feature events in Wānaka and Tanya highlighted ‘A Feijoa Fixation’, where author Kate will discuss her book ‘Feijoa’, which Tanya said was “a really interesting read”.

Queenstown Writers Festival will run from October 31-November 3.

Read the full programme and buy tickets here.

PHOTO: Wānaka App