Let’s start the conversation

The Hawke’s Bay Readers and Writers Festival has come a long way since its birth as The Hastings Festival of Writers: a series of events at the Te Mata Estate in the barrel rooms of the winery. It swiftly gained a reputation as ‘the’ festival for fine writers and hospitality. After all the companionship of a table of like-minded friends mulling over the pleasures of poetry and prose while sipping a fine drop and munching on fine fare is synonymous with our region. Here, chair Louise Ward introduces us to some of our finest.

Story by Louise Ward Photos by Florence Charvin

LEFT TO RIGHT: Maureen Roache, Carla Crosbie, Catherine Robertson, Josephine Carpenter, Louise Ward and Brandi Dixon. Dear Reader, Six fairly ordinary looking humans have once more removed their spectacles, entered the telephone box, and donned their capes of miraculousness to bring you … Hawke’s Bay Readers and Writers Festival 2022! These shapeshifters are Maureen Roache, Carla Crosbie, Catherine Robertson, Josephine Carpenter, Brandi Dixon and me.

Why do we do it, and what’s going on? When putting together a programme we must keep in mind our kaupapa, the actual point of what we’re doing. Absolutely it is to have fun and entertain people, but we must reach as wide an audience as possible. It’s called a Readers and Writers Festival because it’s for readers – all of them.

And if you are not a reader, we would like to encourage you to become one, because not only do you need to read to access basic life stuff, reading improves sleep, general knowledge, motivation, concentration and focus, it teaches empathy, reduces stress, sets a positive example, slows cognitive decline. I could go on, but I will not – you know how to Google.

So, we’ve established that it’s an essential service to society (excuse me whilst I ruffle my cape). What do we need to include to inspire those readers and grab their attention when competition for it is fierce? Publishers are rather good at monitoring trends so that’s a good place to start – what does the publishing programme look like for the coming year, or what’s been happening that has dominated conversations?

This year, we have a session entitled Imagining Decolonisation: Continuing the Legacy of Moana Jackson. The topic is one that underpins most issues in Aotearoa New Zealand; whatever your opinion, colonisation and its ongoing ripples affect every person living in this country. This session is free, entirely funded by Hawke’s Bay Readers and Writers Trust and our sponsors.

Ali Tamainu is Pou Ārahi – Māori Advisor for Hastings District Libraries, and she will be facilitating this session, a kōrero between Mereana Pitman, MNZM, family violence prevention trainer and facilitator; Dr Hinemoa Elder, writer and child and adolescent psychiatrist; and Dr Monty Soutar, ONZM, historian, writer, teacher, soldier, university lecturer, iwi chief executive, civil servant.

Ali says, “Decolonisation is a process and implores a person to dig deep within themselves to determine what decolonisation might look like for them, and the flame for change starts when you understand colonisation. Igniting that spark begins with conversations and an open mind that will force you to confront uncomfortable truths about yourself, even if those truths exist in a time and place beyond your reach and influence. The beauty in the journey is that you have such knowledge about the past and present and can start preparing for a future

that looks distinctively yours.”

It’s not scary, but full of hope. This session will delve into these ideas in a positive, future focused way.

It’s not only readers that get the benefits of a Festival though. Cristina Sanders is the author of two novels for grown-ups, Jerningham and Mrs Jewell and the Wreck of the General Grant, as well as an award-winning young adult novel, Displaced. Cristina feels validated by an invitation to appear:

“Being selected to present at a Festival is like a medal for an author. It’s a nod of recognition from some dynamic people that what you do in your lonely room for years on end is not a self-absorbed waste of a life but creating something for others to enjoy. A live audience is a reward for all that loneliness. Book sales are nice, but people turning up to hear more about a story because they have read it and enjoyed it is a huge encouragement. It is terrifying, but a packed room of expectant readers is what success looks like to an author.”

A common piece of feedback from authors we’ve hosted is that it’s a great experience to be part of a writing community and hang out with other writers. To this end, we release the full programme to our authors early so they can have a look at what’s going on and decide if they’d like to spend more time than is strictly necessary for their gig, so they can hang out, meet other authors and talk writing. Cristina describes the experience thus:

“Festivals are where covens of writers assemble. It’s the collective spirit in an otherwise mostly solitary job – the water cooler of a writer’s life, a place to meet new friends, hear the gossip, see what’s hot, check the industry barometer. It is a relief, after months of intense emotional exhaustion and stress, to surface from wherever you’ve been (and I’ve been castaway on a sub-Antarctic rock for a couple of years) and swap gossip with the others who have come back from fighting Taniwha or investigating grisly murders or wherever their weird brains have taken them. Writers’ festivals always are high spirited and fun because of that release – when the authors are unchained from their brains and go out frolicking.”

It’s worth it just to come and witness frolicking authors, isn’t it? Residents of and visitors to Napier and Hastings in previous years may have noticed Becky Manawatu leading Kyle Mewburn astray in Matisse wine bar; Paul Cleave catching the rugby in Napier; J.P. Pomare having a pint with Marty Smith in the Globe when it was the Emporium. Jack Heath finished one of his kids’ novels on my sofa one year (more or less in the same spot Neil Gaiman sat one time … and yes, I am absolutely name dropping and showing off and you know you would too).

Inviting your local talent is key, and there’s a lot of it out there. Cristina (Havelock North) will be joining young adult authors Aaron Topp (Central Hawke’s Bay) and Keryn Powell (Napier) in a session entitled To the Sea. All three have stories immersed in the ocean, dealing with climate change, legend, prophecy, shipwreck, and storms. The pull of the moana is strong for these authors and Aaron, a keen surfer, will also be hosting a workshop for aspiring young writers on how to create action packed sports adventures.

Back to the something for everyone. We must think about what a Hawke’s Bay audience is, and what they want. If we can’t get bums on seats, what’s the point, right? Traditionally, sessions from writers on cooking and gardening are extremely popular. Annabel Langbein and Kath Irvine were hugely informative and entertaining last year, and the session with Alexandra Tylee and Allyson Gofton a few years back is still spoken of in hushed, reverential tones as one of the best sessions ever.

This year we bring you the authors of the wildly successful books Two Raw Sisters and Salad. I think every Kiwi home now has a copy of the latter judging on sales figures. At around the time of this year’s Festival, Margo and Rosa Flanagan, the raw sisters themselves, are releasing a book entitled Simple Fancy and they are coming to tell us all about it. These women are smart, dynamic, and skilled at making healthy food appealing and delicious. So, who are they, and how do they do it? Lizzie Russell will tease their story out.

Oh hey, we’re allowed to talk about menopause now, right? It happens to about half the population and varies in its symptoms and degrees of nightmarishness. Nicky Pellegrino (Don’t Sweat It) and Niki Bezzant (This Changes Everything) are authors of two of the biggest books on menopause in Aotearoa and together with Dr Samantha Newman, will create a joyful, open, and safe space in which to discuss this crazy, crazy thing. Bring a crowd, grab a glass of something and let’s talk, then we can all go and see Urzila Carlsson afterwards. What a night.

What about the geeks, I hear you cry? What is a Festival without a Dungeons and Dragons inspired novel launch and a large, multi-player DnD extravaganza? Fear not. Gareth Ward (yes, relation) is releasing Tarquin the Honest: The Hand of Glodd, a comic fantasy adventure featuring the universe’s most honest wizard and his sandwich scoffing friend. Dust off your robes and stay for a raucous, high rolling game of DnD. All skill levels are welcome – Dungeon Masters will be provided. (If you don’t know what that is, just come along and hurl yourself into something new and so much fun.)

There’s more. I’ve not even mentioned Douglas Lloyd Jenkins, Nafanua Kersel, Sisilia Eteuati, Max Rashbrooke, Charlotte Grimshaw, Charity Norman, and Catherine Robertson.

I urge you to check out the whole Readers and Writers programme, nestled within the loving arms of the wider Hawke’s Bay Arts Festival. It’s happening right here on our doorstep, and we are so, so lucky. Come. Be challenged and inspired, educated, and confronted, amused, and entertained. We look forward to seeing you, all.

“Being selected to present at a Festival is like a medal for an author. It’s a nod of recognition from some dynamic people that what you do in your lonely room for years on end is not a self-absorbed waste of a life but creating something for others to enjoy.”

CRISTINA SANDERS