"Live simply that others may simply live".

Mahatma Gandhi

[From Mindfood magazine bookmark]

 

 

Weather today: Cloudy overcast, sun trying to shine through, cool, snow forecast for the Southern passes. Lawn very muddy from all the rain. Need to wear gumboots to get to the clothesline and the bird feeder in the apple tree. Lots of snowdrops out and earlicheer daffodils.

 

 

 

PICTON READERS’ AND WRITERS’ FORUM - a great success

The inaugural Writers’ and Readers’ Forum was held at Picton Little Theatre, Dublin Street, Picton over the weekend of 4 – 6 July. Authors registered for this event presented their work and discussed independent publishing opportunities in the digital age. The forum was the brainchild of Peter Thomas, who was the chair of the committee made up of Irene Thomas, Marie Higgs and Julie Kennedy.

   Peter Thomas supplied this report: “It would be an unusual person who could resist being inspired by the writers who descended on Picton’s Little Theatre last weekend. The tone was set by the Ukes of Marlborough who provided entertainment on the Friday evening as the writers, mainly from the Top of the South, gathered for the event. Tears and laughter erupted as writer after writer read from their work or explained the secrets behind the motivation for their creations. But there was a more serious reason for the gathering. The digital age is changing the face of publishing for ever and is creating new opportunities for writers to distribute their work worldwide in ways that could not be envisaged a few years ago. Sales of paper and electronic books must have run into the hundreds as the writers, who are often enveloped in a silent and solitary art form, exchanged ideas and horizons.

   “In the closing minutes of the forum a resolution was unanimously passed to request Radio New Zealand to widen the focus of its book reviews to include the majority of New Zealand literature which is bypassing the old established publishing houses to embrace the new digital era.”

 

   Julie Kennedy adds, “The Forum was a great success, according to all participants. There were about 30 writers in the audience on Saturday; 20 were registered to present their work, while others came to listen and be inspired. Members of the public came and went during the weekend. We appreciated David MacManus from Copy Press being present, plus John and Maree Penney from Prisma Print in Blenheim, as well as all the Nelson writers who attended. Wendy Scott from Hokitika was also an asset, with her contribution to the panel discussion on Sunday. Many people said they hoped the Forum would become an annual event.”

[Report copied from the Top of the South Branch of the NZ Society of Authors (PEN NZ Inc) e-newsletter 11 July 2014.]