New Zealand Society of Authors Canterbury Branch

05/11/2024

About Since 2007, the Hagley Writers’ Institute has offered a part-time creative writing course for adults in Ōtautahi/Christchurch. It also hosts one-off public workshops by local and visiting writers.  Sharing the kaupapa of Hagley College, the Institute is non-profit and welcomes adult learne...

04/10/2024

We're starting to get a little excited! Poetry in Performance is back on Thursday 10 October! We're kicking things off with these three amazing guest poets. HINEMOANA BAKER, JOR DANSAREN, and PHILOMENA JOHNSON!!

Poet and performer HINEMOANA BAKER (Ngāti Raukawa, Ngāti Toa Rangatira, Te Āti Awa, Ngāi Tahu, Ngāi Kiritea) is the author of four collections of poetry. Her latest, ‘Funkhaus’ (THWP 2020), was a finalist for the 2021 Ockham Book Awards. 'Funkhaus' has also just been released as a bilingual edition (German and English, tr. Ulrike Almut Sandig) by Voland & Quist AZUR Edition in Berlin (2023). Hinemoana is spending the coming months in Wellington as the 2024 Randell Cottage Writer in Residence. (Photo credit: Ashley Clarke, 2019) [top left in photo]

JOR DANSAREN is a pagan, pansexual, powerlifting, poetry powerhouse. She is a multiple regional poetry slam finalist and host of the popular 6pm Speakeasy series in Ōtautahi/Christchurch. Her work is themed largely around nature, Nordic deities, neurodivergent experience, and the inevitable chaos of life. [too right in photo] Jor Dansaren - Fire, Circus & Spoken Word

PHILOMENA JOHNSON graduated from The Hagley Writers’ Institute in 2017 where her portfolio was short-listed for the Margaret Mahy Award. Her poetry has appeared in The Quick Brown Dog, The London Grip, takahē, Fuego, a fine line; in the anthologies broken lines / in charcoal & Voiceprints 4; and forthcoming in the New Zealand Poetry Society Anthology 2024. Mena is a tutor at the WRITE ON: School for Young Writers and she won The John O’Connor First Book Award in 2024 for her manuscript not everything turns away which was launched on August 23rd, National Poetry Day. [bottom left in photo]

Tickets are $10 for the night or $30 for a season/supporter ticket which gives you all 4 nights for the price of 3 plus the option to join via Zoom (perfect if you suddenly can't make it in person one night but you don't want to miss out!). Two hours of poetry including our warm and friendly open mic! Arrive early to add your name to the open mic list, mix and mingle, and grab a good seat before we get started at 6.30 pm sharp.

All funds raised go to support future CPC events and poetry in Canterbury. Door sales with eftpos available or buy online: https://canterburypoets.org.nz/tickets/

Big thanks to our venue sponsor Ara Institute of Canterbury for use of their Imagitech Theatre.

26/09/2024

If you haven't contributed to this wonderful organisation yet then please consider doing so NOW- the final push!

Hard not to sweat in the last few days of an all-or-nothing campaign... there's $18,750 on the line!

Every single one of our 130 donors makes an enormous difference for the future of our Poetry in Performance reading series. With your help, we can squeeze over the $20,000 mark, and secure the next FIVE years of our iconic series.

Please consider donating, or share our Boosted campaign with your friends and whānau. Every set of eyes gets us closer to our goal!
https://boosted.org.nz/projects/canterbury-poets-collective

20/09/2024

Developments....

It just got easier for authors to get paid for the use of their books by libraries. But is it enough?

01/08/2024

The victims and survivors of sexual abuse in New Zealand will be honoured in a public reading in the Transitional Cathedral on Thursday, 8 August. Jane Simpson will read from her new book, Shaking the Apple Tree. All are welcome. The event starts at 7.00pm and will be live-streamed on www.cardboardcathedral.org.nz

Copies may be purchased at the Cathedral Shop or from www.poiema.co.nz/shop

Shop Book | All Book Shaking the Apple Tree NZ$25.00 Add To Cart The Farewelling of a Home from NZ$15.00 Add To Cart Tussocks Dancing from NZ$15.00 Add To Cart Tuning Wordsworth’s Piano NZ$25.00 Add To Cart

31/07/2024

It is great to see so many of our Waitaha Canterbury writers featured in the latest edition of Flash Frontier.

Feature Artist: Nod Ghosh
New Book Interview: Gail Ingram

New BookL Sandra Arnold

and writing from Heather McQuillan and Desna Wallace.

The long way home – Deb JowittThe one who didn’t get away – Sara CraneThe kismet of stones – Heather McQuillanArchaeology – Mark StevensonGuts and guitars – Tui BevinRock solid: a ballad of bruised balls whereby karma is an ice-cold stevedore – Janean CherkunFifty thousand years ago, a...

20/07/2024

Are you a current NZSA member?
If you are on the Canterbury Branch list you will get our email updates on events. Please check your email address is current with Head Office.

Not a member? See all the benefits here, plus you can join in our free events and be part of a welcoming local community of writers:)

Your NZ Society of Authors membership gives you access to a wide variety of benefits. Along with our longstanding membership benefits, we have sourced a range of discounted services from editors, proofreaders, digital conversion, typing services, book designers and at bookstores!

19/07/2024

We were delighted to welcome members in from the cold last Thursday to partake in three bite-sized flash fiction workshops from local experts. Ngā mihi nui to Sandra Arnold, @ Nod Ghosh and Heller
Sandra provided us with a prompt "Reflection" and shared a luminous memory story.
Nod entertained us with her reading- an apology letter that told a story- and gave us a prompt using randomised words from our phones.
Jenna read her award-winning story 'Best Friends' and talked about her process - she provided us with picture prompts.
In between each presenter we had about 10 minutes of writing time and people were keen to share their work- someone suggested we had the makings of an anthology!
Come and join us next month for a Writers' Round Robin- bring your questions, challenges and celebrations and partake in the collective wisdom of your peers.

10/07/2024

The Readers and Writers Akaroa Festival ( RAWA) is now open for registrations.

"Following the success of the inaugural Readers and Writers Akaroa festival in 2023, this year's line up of authors, presenters and subjects is even more varied and impressive."

09/07/2024

Check out the amazing speakers and workshops for what has to be one of the best readers and writers festivals around- and it's just over the hill in Akaroa!

Canterbury NZSA members have until midnight on July 10th to apply for one of 10 generous fellowships sponsored by CLNZ. Check emails for the details.

"Following the success of the inaugural Readers and Writers Akaroa festival in 2023, this year's line up of authors, presenters and subjects is even more varied and impressive."

17/06/2024

Update from the Children's Writers Hub:

"We've had a topsy turvy ride, organising this month's session and while I'm sorry to advise we have had to move Michele McConnochie's session to later in the year, I'm delighted to advise Peter Adolph has stepped into the breach.

Peter will be talking about the recent FEATHERSTON BOOK FESTIVAL AND he will also be offering some tips on SELF-EDITING & OTHER WRITING TIPS.Having self-published a number of children's books, Peter will have lots to share with us.

Looking forward to seeing you THIS SATURDAY afternoon - 22nd August 2pm-3.30pm at South Library. "

12/06/2024

Important notice:
Our meeting scheduled for June 20th has moved to ZOOM. Members, please check your email for the link.

30/05/2024

Congratulations to all of our local branch members who will be reading at this event. Come along for some great short fiction on the shortest day of the year.

National Flash Fiction Day New Zealand 2024 Ōtautahi Christchurch is on!

Join us to celebrate short short fiction on the shortest day at Auaha Hīhī / Spark Place, Tūranga

What's on?
💥 emcee Annabel Wilson
💥 guest reader - Jenna Heller, fresh from the release of her debut collection The End of the Beginning
💥 guest reader - Jessica Hurrell, School for Young Writers
💥 local writers long-listed in National Flash Fiction Day, Micro Madness and Finger Comma Toes Youth competition.
💥 New Zealand Society of Authors Canterbury Branch Regional award winner
💥 Announcement of national winners

And it's free!

Event details here - https://www.facebook.com/share/R82kJfUgAF5grupH/

Thanks to
- Christchurch City Council Creative New Zealand Creative Communities Grant
- Christchurch City Libraries & Tūranga
- our fabulous graphic designer Henriette Nass for our new logo and posters

25/05/2024

Books, storytelling and ideas

18/05/2024

https://nzsacanterbury.wordpress.com/2024/05/18/may-meeting/

We’d love to see you at one of our Branch Meetings soon. These events are a chance to socialise, learn, workshop and share. Our committee meetings take place separately. NZSA Canterbury …