Matakana and Zinzan

If you are keen enough to head north this weekend and brave the crowds at Matakana, here is an author event that is happening at Matakana at the fantastic Village Bookshop.

Local author Rae Roadley is signing copies of her book “Love At The End Of The Road” Saturday 22nd October 10am – 12noon at The Village Bookshop, Matakana.

“Soon after returning to her hometown in Northland, New Zealand to work as a journalist, Rae meets Rex Roadley through a rural dating service.Rex’s beef and sheep farm at Batley, on the Kaipara Harbour, has been in his family for almost a century. These days the only evidence of the spot’s fascinating historic past is a magnificent two-storyed villa standing alone on the point. ... Rae, a lifelong city dweller, learns to cope with mud, managing a large house and garden, the intricacies of farming, and the frustrations of life in New Zealand’s backblocks, all the while getting to know the locals and an assortment of animals – from wild kittens to wild bulls.

Rae’s charming story is beautifully written from the heart. Not only does she find love with Rex, but she finds out more about herself than she ever knew. Woven through her account is the story of the great house itself at Batley and the history of the surrounding countryside.”

And just to keep it local for the Kowhai Coast today, there must have been more than a few locals watching This is Your Life on Monday night when home-grown boy Zinzan Brooke was honoured. There are probably a number who remember racing up and down muddy rugby fields in Puhoi, Kaipara Flats and Warkworth chasing the Brooke boys. If you want to refresh your memory of Zinny's playing career check out our library shelves for his biography. It's a bit hard to get hold of now, but worth the read.

Welcome to New Zealand Book Month 2011!

NZ Book Month 2011 - Where we celebrate the power of books. The following is taken directly off the website for New Zealand Book Month. Auckland Libraries are joining in the celebrations so stay tuned and we will let you know what is happening and when.

Fiction or non-fiction, a book has the power to change your life. New Zealand Book Month is an annual campaign to encourage us all to celebrate books and reading. New Zealand Book Month is the perfect time to discover your next life-changing book, pick up a recommended read, share a favourite book with your friends and family, encourage colleagues to start a book club – and to meet some of New Zealand's finest writers at one of over 200 events right across the country during March 2011. There are so many ways in which you can take part in New Zealand Book Month. Here's how you can get involved:

Take advantage of our Books Change Lives $5 vouchers. New Zealand Book Month will be distributing four million $5 book vouchers during March 2011. Here's where you'll find out more about the voucher, and get details of how you can get hold of yours.
Find your nearest participating bookseller, from the 290 fantastic booksellers across the country that are participating in our Books Change Lives campaign.
Find a great New Zealand Book Month event near you, organised by one of our passionate and committed Book Month Activists.
Check out our book lists to discover your next great read. These "life-changing books" were voted for by our readers during October 2010. We're delighted to share their recommendations, and think you'll agree that there's something here for everyone.
Become a Book Month Activist for March 2012. Help plan, shape and put on events locally. In 2011 Book Month Activists will put on over 200 community events throughout New Zealand. Each activity helps bring books alive, and introduces the joy – and power – of books to new audiences. We’d love your help and welcome your assistance. And we’ll assist you with ideas, tools and perhaps we can even help arrange publicity and an author visit to your event! To find out more, simply register your interest with us.
Sign up for Bookmark, our free e-newsletter, keeping you up-to-date with events and activities during New Zealand Book Month.
Make a date in your diary – March 2011 – and join in New Zealand’s biggest national celebration of books and reading.The possibilities for celebrating books and reading are as limitless as your imagination.

STORYLINES FAMILY FUN DAY

This post is coming to you, not from a library in Rodney, but from Whangarei. I am currently travelling around the north with several authors and an illustrator as part of the Storylines Festival Schools Tour. Yesterday Tim Tipene, Donovan Bixley, Janine McVeagh and Diana Menefy visited schools at Matakohe and around Dargaville. Today it is the turn of some of the Whangarei Schools.

Tomorrow, Saturday, the Storylines Family Fun Day will be hosted by the Whangarei Central Library. This is your chance to meet some of your favourite authors, listen to some fantastic storytelling, watch illustrators at work, be entertained, facepainted, enter competitions... It's all happening from 10am - 2pm. Check out this website link for the programme or pick one up at the library.

Then on Sunday there is an even bigger Family Fun Day at the Aotea Centre in Auckland. There will be more of the above on every level of the Centre and I hear Margaret Mahy will be putting in an appearance (which you may need to turn up early for), but the guest list reads like a Who's Who of Kiwi children's literature (Check it out here). You will also see some familiar Rodney faces (local authors and local librarians).

Did I mention it is all FREE!! Hope to see everyone at Auckland on Sunday and to meet some more friendly folk from the north tomorrow.

Ka kite

Mackay Books present Script and Scribe

Mackay Books present 'Script and Scribe', a showcase for up and coming New Zealand authors at various locations throughout Rodney. Local author Shelley Hedges and a number of other writers will visit the libraries. All are welcome.

'Script and Scribe' will be visiting the following locations:
Warkworth library, Friday 26th March, 11am
Whangaparaoa library Friday 26th March, 2:30pm
Kumeu library, Tuesday 30th March, 2:30pm

Heather Mackay of Mackay Books will be available at the event to discuss manuscript submissions to be read or assessed.

This is a free event, however advance booking through the relevant library is required.

A Literary Adventures event.

Santa News from Auckland Readers & Writer's Festival

The latest Auckland Readers & Writers Festival newsletter is out announcing lots of fantastic guests for the May event. And tickets don't go on sale until April so there is plenty of time for your budget to recover from the festive season. However, if you want to buy a subscription as a gift there is still just enough time for Santa to get it under the tree.

Here's an excerpt from the bulletin announcing the lineup to date:

The Auckland Writers & Readers Festival is proud to announce that the following international guests will appear at the 2010 festival:
Elizabeth Gilbert, author of the bestselling memoir Eat, Pray, Love. The sequel, Committed, is a meditation on the history, culture, politics, trials and tribulations of marriage.
John Carey is a distinguished critic, reviewer, broadcaster, Man Booker judge, and biographer of the Nobel Prize-winning novelist William Golding.
Rick Gekoski, bestselling author of Tolkien’s Gown, takes us on a literary journey in his bibliomemoir Outside of a Dog.
The prolific and much-loved Thomas Keneally’s most recent novel is The People’s Train. He has just published the first in a three-volume history of the Australian people, Australians: Origins to Eureka.
In Seven Days in the Art World sociologist Sarah Thornton looks at all aspects of buying, selling, and creating serious art.
Jill Dawson’s sixth novel, The Great Lover, is a fictional life of Rupert Brooke.
Yiyun Li’s A Thousand Years of Good Prayers was shortlisted for the Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award, and won the Guardian First Book Award. Her new novel, The Vagrants, is based on the true story of a young woman sentenced to death in 1979 China for her loss of faith in Communism.
Su Tong won the 2009 Man Asia Literary Prize for The Boat to Redemption. A major figure in China’s literary scene, his best-known work is Wives and Concubines, which was made into the film Raise the Red Lantern.
Independent journalist and blogger Antony Loewenstein writes about the internet in The Blogging Revolution and the Israel/Palestine conflict in his bestselling My Israel Question.
Ben Naparstek, the 23-year-old editor of Australia’s influential magazine, The Monthly, recently published In Conversation, a collection of interviews with 39 of the world’s best writers.
John Freeman, the new editor of Granta, explores the history of communication in Shrinking the World: The 4,000-year story of how email came to rule our lives.
Adrian Wooldridge, management editor of The Economist, joins us to talk about his latest book (co-authored with John Micklethwait, The Economist’s editor-in-chief), God is Back: How the Global Revival of Faith is Changing the World.
More guests, including New Zealand writers, will be announced in February 2010. Final programme details will be released in March and tickets go on sale through The Edge Ticketing Service in April.

Maria Gill, Eco-ranger

Today at 11am author Maria Gill (a Rodney Libraries fav) and illustrator Vivienne Lingard will be launching their new book "Eco-rangers save the planet : earth-friendly missions for green Kiwis" at the Warkworth Masonic hall. Invitations have gone to local schools from the Library and some of our local library team will be there.

From the first post on her eco-rangernz blog set up for the book you can tell Maria cares about the environment. "In the book I've got loads of ideas of what you can do to help the environment. From saving water, reducing waste, caring for our wildlife, buying wise, turning your school and home into a sustainable place, to being energy conscious. But that's not all; I also look at global issues and how it affects you. The book also tells positive stories about what people your age, adults and schools are doing to make a difference - there are some very inspiring stories.This blog is a place for you to tell me and everyone else what you are doing to save the planet - I can't wait to hear your story... "

Aimed at ages 9+ there's a competition on her website. "Draw a logo or picture and write a catch phrase for 'Save the Planet'" Entries close 15 November.

Weekend Snippets

The end of a busy week and State Highway One has been busy through Warkworth from first thing this morning as people make their escapes from the city on the first long weekend of the spring/summer season. If you are out on the road - be careful out there.

If you haven't already got your reading, music or DVD's for the holiday weekend, all Rodney Libraries are open on Saturday (all slightly different hours so check our website for details - just click on your local library on the map for information).

In the meantime, here are a few snippets from the book world to finish off the week.

Visit the Stuff.co.nz "Books" page to get information on Nick Hornby's latest novel (his first in four years) Juliet, naked and Ozzy Osbourne's biography called I am Ozzy. Several copies of both have already been ordered for Rodney Libraries so watch out for these and ask at your library if you would like to request them.

Check out one of our favourite Kiwi website's Beatties Book Blog for all the up to date national and international news and views in the world of publishing, books and authors. There will be an excerpt in the Sunday Star Times this week of Rachel King's novel Magpie Hall, so that will be worth checking out.

If you are a science fiction, fantasy, graphic novel or pop culture fan, then you will probably already know that the Armageddon Expo is on in Auckland this weekend at the ASB Showgrounds in Greenlane. If you can bear to brave the roads this weekend, it certainly sounds like it is worth a visit.

For information on events around Rodney District over the weekend and through to November check out the Rodney District Council website

Have an awesome weekend everyone.

Children's literature auction

If you have always wanted to own some original artwork from a Kiwi illustrator, have lunch or go horseriding with a New Zealand author, or even own a shawl created by one, then you should check out the Storylines Charity Auction.

This is the second time that run a fundraising auction has been run by the Storylines Children's Literature Charitable Trust. A wide range of authors, illustrators, Kiwi identities and organisations have got behind the auction such as the Auckland Zoo (go behind the scenes with the keepers and meet the monkeys), Weta Workshop (have lunch with Richard Taylor and Martin Baynton - creators of the WotWots), the Scary Washing Machine Man (aka Mike Whittaker) and courtesy of a range of Publishers, the back catalogue of Margaret Mahy from 1986 to today.

To bid on any of the lots you need to register at the Storylines Auction website. There are 39 items and experiences that you can bid on and funds are going to a very worthy cause (of course I would say that).

Roald Dahl Day

Today, Sunday September 13th is Roald Dahl Day. And all around the world people are celebrating the day with events, readings and (as you would expect) fun.

13th September is the author's birthday which is why it was selected. There is a dedicated website for it in Britain which you can visit by clicking on the link http://www.roalddahlday.info/.

The official Roald Dahl website can also be visited.

Here at Rodney Libraries we have celebrated by replacing a lot of our terribly well read copies of Roald Dahl books, as well as purchasing many of the titles on audio book, which is another fantastic way to introduce these tales to your family. Check out our catalogue on this link (which was an author search) for all 91 entries we have for Roald Dahl at Rodney Libraries. Personally I am a big fan of the Revolting Rhymes, but they are all good, and still some of our most popular items.

It works both ways

As librarians, a huge part of job is providing what in the profession is called "reader's advisory". That is people coming into the library looking to us for inspiration and suggestions as to what they can read. The reading experience is often so personal and subjective, that this exercise can be very hit and miss. Most librarians have also probably experienced the panic of a completely blank space in their minds when someone asks "Can you suggest a good read?" which is sometimes my natural reaction to the question. Why can I think of a hundred books and titles in the comfort of my own workstation, but not manage to recall one with the expectant face in front of me?

A bonus of the job is that reader's advisory actually works both ways. Often one of our customers will come in and tell us that a book was a particularly good read, which puts us onto another good title for ourselves. That's if they haven't already recommended it to a dozen friends who have all put holds on it.

This happened lately when a Warkworth patron recommended No Time for Goodbye (Linwood Barclay) to Lisa. A copy of the book (we have several at Rodney) is now on to the third or fourth member of staff and so far we have all enjoyed it. The story follows the tale of Cynthia, who as a teenager, woke up one morning with a nasty hangover, dreading the confrontation with her parents. What she actually found was an empty house with no sign of her parents or her brother. Twenty five years later, the mystery of what happened is no closer to being solved and haunts Cynthia. It's one simple idea that the author pulls apart and puts back together again in a page-turning way, much the same as Jodi Picoult does, although another reviewer and fellow author likened his writing to Harlan Coben. This title is also available in large print and audio book.

The latest Linwood Barclay novel has just hit the shelves of the Rodney Library. Too Close to Home has a cover byline "What's more frightening than your neighbours being murdered? Finding the killers went to the wrong house...". It certainly sounds intriguing. I am already a couple of chapters in so will keep you posted.

Linwood Barclay is a Canadian who previously was a newspaper humour columnist. You can check out his career on his own website . He is currently touring New Zealand promoting his books including his next book "Fear the Worst". He will be at the Takapuna Library next Monday, July 27 between 12 noon and 1.00 pm. Admission is $2 but you will need to RSVP to Helen by phone at (09) 486 8469 or by email at helenw@shorelibraries.co.nz to make sure there is space for you.

Phil Gifford at Orewa Library 28 May

Phil Gifford, award-winning broadcaster, sports journalist, presenter and rugby ‘best-selling’ author will be at the Orewa Library on 28 May from 2pm-3pm. $2 gold coin donation.

Phil's last book was the biography of Peter Leitch - "What a ride, mate! : the life and times of the Mad Butcher"
"Peter Leitch, aka the mad Butcher, is a legend in his own lifetime, a larger than life character who left school at 15 and went on to build a nationwide chain of successful butcher shops and a reputation as a foul mouthed league supporter with a heart of gold."

Ph. 426 8249 to book.

Sure to be entertaining!

Author talk from Jane Bissell

Author Jane Bissell visits Rodney Libraries next week to talk about her books.




Thursday October 16, 6pm at Whangaparaoa Library and Service Centre
Friday, October 17, 6pm at Orewa Library
Tuesday October 21, 10:30am at Kumeu Library





Jane discusses her two books - 'Welcome to the Amazon Club' and 'The Pink Party'. The first describes her first year with breast cancer and her second book continues this journey and brings in the stories of two other women who have experienced breast cancer. Jane was diagnosed with breast cancer in October 2001 – breast cancer awareness month – so the irony of that was not lost on her! Never thinking she would be the ‘one in eight New Zealand women’ who would experience breast cancer at some point in life, Jane embarked on a journey that not only dramatically redirected her own life but also brought positive change and reward.


Jane is a professional Hibiscus Coast writer and author of two books and numerous articles. An inspirational, humorous and vibrant speaker, Jane talks about the lessons she has learned from her breast cancer journey and the importance of celebrating life and living each day to the full.


For further information about Jane, please visit her website http://www.janebissell.co.nz/

All events free, please contact the library for more information.

A Literary Adventure event.

Author talk with Graeme Woodfield at Orewa Library today

Graeme Woodfield will be at Orewa Library at 2:30pm to talk about his new book "No ordinary man: the remarkable life of Arthur Porritt".


A Literary Adventure event.

Literary Adventure event at Kumeu Library

Dr Graeme Woodfield launches his latest book called "No ordinary man: the remarkable life of Arthur Porritt". Written together with Joseph Romanos it tells the story of a New Zealander who achieved great things in several spheres. Among his achievements: a Rhodes scholar; Olympic sprint medallist; surgeon; war hero and Governor-General of New Zealand.



Friday 26 September 2008, 10:30 am.



Free entry. Tea and coffee provided.

Tonight - author event with Wendyl Nissen at Whangaparaoa Library and Service Centre

Whangaparaoa Library and Service Centre is hosting best-selling author and columnist Wendyl Nissen tonight at 7pm.

She will talk about her autobiography ‘Bitch & Famous’, read from her new novel and discuss her upcoming escorted tour through Russia.

The event is free and is being staged in conjunction with Manly United Travel.

Author event with Wendyl Nissen in conjunction with Manly United Travel

Whangaparaoa Library and Service Centre is hosting best-selling author and columnist Wendyl Nissen at 7pm on 7 August 2008. She will talk about her autobiography ‘Bitch & Famous’, read from her new novel and discuss her upcoming escorted tour through Russia.

For more than 25 years Wendyl Nissen has been at the front of the media pack, first as an eager young journalist, then as the influential editor of high-profile women's magazines, a television producer and writer, and a popular radio and television commentator and newspaper columnist

She currently appears on the Living Channel’s 'April in the Afternoon' most days sharing her insight and knowledge about what women want and writes a parenting and agony advice column for the NZ Woman’s Weekly, a life commentary column for the Herald on Sunday and features every Friday on the Holmes Breakfast show on Newstalk ZB and the Mike Hosking show every Saturday morning.

Join Wendyl at Whangaparaoa Library and Service Centre from 7pm on Thursday 7th August. The event is free and is being staged in conjunction with Manly United Travel.

Book launch "Keeping the Faith - travel the world" at Whangaparoaa Library

Authors Jocelyn Watkin and Kim Gabites will be launching the second edition of their book “Keeping the Faith – Travel the World” at the Whangaparaoa Library and Service Centre in the Whangaparaoa Town Centre today at 2 – 2:45 pm.

Since its initial launch in August 2007, interest keeps growing in “Keeping the Faith – Travel the World”. It is a travel tale that many New Zealanders want to read - how to be a footloose, fancy-free and how to pay for it. The book was awarded a top 5-star rating by the on-line financial bookstore Good Returns, along with the warning: “This book changes lives”

Copies in libraries across New Zealand are in constant demand and the feedback from all ages and professions has been “inspiring”, “powerful” and “very readable”.

Kim says, “Keeping the Faith – Travel the World” tells the story of Faith MacDiarmid, a financial tactician and keen traveller. The book shows how easy goal setting and financial planning can be when there is a compelling motivator like travel.”

Jocelyn says, “It’s about journeys – Faith’s own, which shape her money beliefs and life, and those of her clients who get to live their dreams. The reader shares these journeys with Faith, peering over her shoulder like a pillion passenger, as she talks to her clients and helps them to take off on their travel goals.”

Jocelyn and Kim are keen to help other writers. At the launch, they will share their knowledge on how they co-wrote, published and now promote “Keeping the Faith – Travel the World” and they will also reveal their seven steps for successful travel saving.

For serious travellers, armchair dreamers, book lovers and aspiring writers this event has something for everyone, with a chance to have a longer chat with Jocelyn and Kim after their presentation. In addition, the Whangaparaoa Library and Service Centre will have displays available of books from their travel and investment sections.

This event is open to everyone and is free of charge.

Book launch details:
Tuesday 1 July, 2 – 2:45 pm
Whangaparaoa Library and Service Centre
9 Main Street, Whangaparaoa Town Centre,
Rodney
(09) 427 3710

The book is retailing for $30.00 and can be bought at the launch, or ordered via the website: www.keepingthefaith.co.nz

It was FANTASTIC

The Storylines Family Day at the Aotea Centre on Sunday that is! I had an exhilirating (and exhausting day) helping out there (taking my turn at being one of those volunteers we are celebrating this week). I have heard reports that there were record crowds there and if some of the queues and crowds following Babette Cole, Joy Cowley, Carole Wilkinson and Hairy Maclary around or at the facepainters or comics stands, then I can well believe it. The storytelling sessions were packed out. The craftmakers were busy. The Kids Lit contest went into sudden death and it looked like everyone there was having a wonderful time.

I had the pleasure of helping visiting American storyteller Cathy Spagnoli navigate the Aotea Centre to get to her sessions. She has travelled extensively through Asia, India and Africa and has some wonderful tales to tell, being truly passionate about the power of the story to open up the world to people. I loved the way she involved the audience, getting them to help her finish the story, or help her tell it in sign language.

Another storyteller I helped was the dynamic Apirana Taylor. This multi-talented man is a musician, poet, painter, actor and (I have since learnt from a local school librarian who heard him speak at their conference last year) an inspirational speaker. I can well believe all that, simply by listening to him tell the tales of Maui and Matariki, often using Maori musical instruments and string figures. Don't turn down the chance if you ever get to listen to him. Or check out some of his poetry and stories that we have in the Rodney Libraries collection.

Have I raved for long enough? Do you get the picture? Will you be there next year? I certainly will be.

Ka kite ano

STORYLINES - Free Family Day

I am really excited about this weekend. I am volunteering on Sunday at the Auckland Storylines Festival. This free day is on Sunday from 10am to 3pm at the Aotea Centre, for children of all ages (the young and the young at heart).

There are international guests Babette Cole and Carole Wilkinson, plus storyteller Cathy Spagnoli. As well there are plenty of Kiwi authors (Joy Cowley, David Hill, Melanie Drewery are just a few), illustrators, storytellers, publishers and booksellers, plus exhibits, competitions, the national final of the Kids Lit Quiz, performers, facepainters, activities and puppets. The Aotea Centre is going to be a hive of activity. And we will be there!!! I'll even take the camera and see if I can get a few shots and some comments from the famous people.

Did I mention it was free! Take some lunch and have a picnic in the Square before diving back into the hub-bub. Listen to your favourite author and get them to sign a book for you. It should be fantastic. See you there.

Well Done Rodney Schools!!

A big congratulations go today to Mahurangi and Orewa College Kids Lit teams who both came third in their respective heats for the Auckland region on Friday.

Orewa College were up first in the afternoon heat and came in third behind Bucklands Beach Intermediate and Glen Eden Intermediate. In the evening it was Mahurangi's turn, doing the Rodney region proud by repeating the third placing behind Belmot and Kowhai Intermediates respectively.

That's a huge achievement when you consider how many schools there are in the Auckland Region and that each school can enter two teams. So well done to everyone involved.

The finals of the national Kids Lit competition will be held this Sunday as part of the Storylines Festival at the Aoteo Centre (more on that later in the week). If you want to find out more about the competition, hit the link to the Kids Lit website, find out all about and try the sample questions to see how you go.