Queenstown Writers Festival chair Tanya Surrey is still coming down from the high of another successful festival. Here's her wrap-up of this year's event.
After months of meetings, phone calls, emails to publishers and efforts to source peonies for the stage, the Queenstown Writers Festival came together last weekend.
We called it a “mini festival” but with nine sessions across three venues and a writing competition happening behind the scenes it occurred to me the Trust’s definition of “mini” might need to be reviewed. As eager audience members streamed through Te Atamira it was delightful to observe the joy that comes from bringing people together to hear stories.
Inspiring people to learn more about the art of writing is a core part of our kaupapa, and the festival got underway on Saturday morning with two workshops. Barbara Else shared her secrets on memoir writing at the Arrowtown Lifestyle Village while Dame Gaylene Preston held a workshop for aspiring screenwriters.
I joined the screenwriters and discovered there are some fabulous tales out there waiting to make it to the big screen. The pitches were wide-ranging and there is certainly no shortage of vision and energy for making films in Central Otago. A second workshop was held on Monday to meet demand.
In the afternoon, Cristina Sanders discussed her gripping and meticulously researched novel Mrs Jewell and the Wreck of the General Grant. In this historical fiction Cristina has imagined the fate of those who survived the shipwreck of the General Grant back in 1866. Wānaka’s Bill Day has led five expeditions to look for the shipwreck and the missing gold and he joined Cristina to discuss this intriguing mystery. I suspect a few in the audience would be keen to get their hands on the gold. It would certainly help the Queenstown Writers Festival’s bank balance.
Dame Gaylene then spoke with local filmmaker Holly Wallace about her illustrious career in film and her memoir Gaylene’s Take. Dame Gaylene has spent decades bringing New Zealand stories to the screen. It’s been a life well lived and the audience loved hearing her stories while sipping a glass of the divine Two Paddocks wine.
On Sunday morning writer Megan Nicol Reed shared hilarious tales of motherhood, menopause and mid-life marriage. Megan was open about navigating life with two mothers when that was far from common and about the ups and downs of middle age. The audience loved her honesty and chat about writing her novel One of Those Mothers.
This was followed by Michael Bennett’s session discussing his debut novel Better the Blood and his work on Teina Pora’s case. This work led to Pora’s release from prison after 20 years. Michael’s insights into the criminal justice system gave the audience much to think about. The conversation was moving and inspiring – it brought many to tears.
In the afternoon Barbara Else talked to Megan Nicol Reed about her life in literature and her memoir Laughing at the Dark. Barbara is a stalwart of New Zealand’s literary scene, having published several novels and children’s books. She has also edited and mentored numerous other writers. Her life story is fascinating.
The festival ended with a showcase of work from writers based in Tāhuna Queenstown. Six locals shared their work around the theme of “Arrival”. This was a popular event and we look forward to working with local writers again in the future. There’s plenty of talent out there amidst the lakes and mountains.
It was a pleasure to work with Kiwi Christmas Books again to support their project to give new books to children across Aotearoa New Zealand. We promoted this cause every chance we got.
Then it was all over. As the festival wrapped up and the writing competition deadline closed I was thrilled with how the event had come to fruition. It was a delight to see our work behind the scenes come together. The long meetings and sleepless nights were worth it!
Words can inspire, educate, entertain and bring hope. Stories and words in every form give us an insight into worlds we may never experience first hand. It is an experience.
Thank you to the sponsors, funders, patrons and volunteers who helped us bring this event to Tāhuna Queenstown. Your vision and support make this vibrant event happen.
But thanks most of all to our audience, the festival is for you.
He waka eke noa – we are all in this together.