A Reading Game

Inspired by the Lonely Planet Guide to Experimental Travel, Sally decided to create a game she calls Reader’s Roulette. Here are her instructions.

The letters of the alphabet are divided into 6 groups, one for each side of a regular die. Oh, did I forget to mention you’d need one of those? Well, you do. You'll also need a library, but I know you'll have one of those lying around somewhere.

1 - A G M S Y
2 - B H N T Z
3 - C I O U
4 - D J P V
5 - E K Q W
6 - F L R X

Roll the die once. Say you roll a 2. This tells you that your author’s name will start with a B, H, N, T or Z. Roll the die again. If you roll a 1, your author’s name will start with the first letter in that group. If you roll a 2, it will start with the second. 3, it starts with third, and so on. If your roll is higher than the number of letters in the group, roll again until you get a useful number. For the purposes of this explanation, let’s just say you rolled a 4. So your author’s name will start with T.

Now roll your die twice more. Put the two numbers together to get a two-digit number. For example, a roll of 3 followed by a roll of 1 gives you the number 31.

You (hypothetically) have the letter T and the number 31.

Armed with these two pieces of information, go to the fiction shelves of your library. Find the part where the authors’ surnames start with T. There’ll probably be a big T somewhere around there to help you out. Librarians are good like that. Starting at the beginning of that section, count out 31 books. This is the book you’re going to read. Now, it’s no good complaining that you don’t read mystery/fantasy/romance/badly-written-trash. You committed yourself to reading this book when you rolled that die. This is Reader’s Roulette, my friend. Anything can happen. And who knows? You might surprise yourself and find a new favourite author. At the very least you’ll have tried something new.

Go on, read dangerously.

And in terms of the book that inspired this game, here is the description from our catalogue "Experimental Travel is not about checking off the major sights or following your guidebook to the letter; it's a playful way of travelling, where the journey's methodology is clear but the destination is usually unknown. Experimental Travel renders all destinations equal - be it a burger shack or the Taj Mahal. The book contains a series of travel games or 'invitations'. Do you yearn for the glories of yesteryear? Pack an octogenarian guidebook and replace the subway with a penny farthing for an Anachronistic Adventure. Do you like to gamble? Taste the real thrill of adventure with Trip Poker or Monopoly Travel. Are you desperate for a holiday but strapped for cash? To undertake Budget Tourism low funds are not an obstacle but a prerequisite. In all cases you are free to improvise as you wish." So you can see just how the book got Sally thinking.

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.

Author Lauraine Jacobs

Celebrate NZ Book Month at Matakana with food and travel writer Lauraine Jacobs. We're lucky enough to have Lauraine at two events on Friday 23 October 2009. Booking are essential for both as numbers are limited.

A new book 'A Treasury of New Zealand Baking' edited by Lauraine, will be available to buy at both events in conjunction with The Village Bookshop. Royalties from book sales to go to Breast Cancer Foundation.

In the morning - 10:30am at Brookview Tea House, 1335 Leigh Road (opp Wharf Road), Matakana. Lauraine will chat about the behind the scenes of food writing nationally and internationally. High tea will be served and cost $20 per person. Book with Lynne Curry, Brookview Teahouse, ph: 09- 423 0390.

In the evening - 6pm at the Old Masonic Hall (next to the Library) in Warkworth. Lauraine will talk on her life as food editor of Cuisine Magazine - sharing insights on travel, food and restaurants over a glass of wine provided by Ascension Vineyards, Matakana. Cost $5 per person. Book with Gail Dallimore, Warkworth Library 09 427 3769 or gail.dallimore@rodney.govt.nz

Michael Irwin author of "Educating Boys" at Orewa Library

Michael Irwin, the author of "Educating Boys" will be speaking at Orewa Library on Wednesday 21 October at 2pm. He has over 30 years’ experience in working with boys, as a teacher, principal and Scout leader. He is currently a senior lecturer in Education at Massey University in Auckland, and his doctoral thesis investigated the way we educate boys in New Zealand.

"Educating Boys" is a comprehensive, practical look at how we educate our boys in New Zealand - what’s working and what isn’t, from kindergarten right through to secondary school.

Asks the questions
- Are boys in New Zealand getting a fair deal at school?
- Why are so many boys in New Zealand not achieving their potential?
- What can parents and teachers do to help boys succeed at school?

Michael Irwin has listened to the opinions of the boys themselves and combined these insights with his own experience and the most recent research on helping boys to learn. Full of practical ideas and wisdom, "Educating Boys" is the essential handbook for people who want to help boys succeed at school and in life.

The 10 pm Question by Kate de Goldi . . .

A great read for both young adults and adults. NZ Post Book of the Year 2009 and Readers Choice in the Montana New Zealand Book Awards 2009.

Frankie is an intense young man with a head full of questions. He’s fascinated by birds and spends a lot of time both studying them and drawing make-believe birds of fabulous colours and amazing plumage.

Meanwhile, on the Whangaparaoa Peninsula a team of dedicated volunteers (SOSSI) are creating an open sanctuary to ensure the safety of our own beautiful native birds.

Come along and support their work by attending the Shakespear Open Sanctuary Information Evening at Whangaparaoa Library Thursday October 8th at 7 pm

A DVD documenting the predator fence project on Great Barrier Island will be shown

ALL WELCOME

A gold coin donation to SOSSI will be appreciated

Check out the beautiful Jeff Thomson artwork too. Jeff is donating part of the proceeds from each sale to the Shakespear Open Sanctuary Project.

About NZ Book Month

NZ Book Month is a non-profit initiative that has the whole book industry behind it, from writers and publishers to bookshops and libraries. Quite simply, the idea is to get more of us reading New Zealand books.
We are proud to be a nation of readers. On a global scale, Kiwis are highly literate and recent surveys show that many of us wouldn’t think about relaxing without a good book. But we want more of those books to be ones that have been written by New Zealand writers. We want to celebrate and showcase the brilliant writing talent we have, to support new and upcoming writers in our country, to tap into the pride we feel in our literary landscape and show you that whatever your taste, there’s a fantastic New Zealand book for you.
NZ Book Month is an annual event, which will grow over time to be a nation-wide festival involving everyone from local communities to the Prime Minister.
NZ Book Month will be celebrated in October this year.

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!

Be entertained by Max Cryer at Orewa Library

Max Cryer is visiting Orewa Library on Friday 3 April at 1.30pm. Be entertained as he talks about the remarkable stories behind the world's favourite songs from his new book "Love me tender."



In the book, best selling author, broadcaster and entertainer Max Cryer reveals the fascinating stories behind 40 of the world's most popular songs.

With Max's eye for curiosity, surprise and detail he brings to light the origins of classics including 'Blue Moon', 'Twinkle twinkle little star', and 'Now is the Hour'.


Phone 09 426 8249 to book your seat. $5 charge with profits going to Hospice.


Bought to you by Orewa Library, Exisle Publishing and PaperPlus Orewa.



A Rodney Libraries Literary Adventure.

A romance evening to remember

Join Laura Lee Guhrke, Karina Bliss and Helen Kirkman at Whangaparaoa Library and Service Centre tonight from 6:30pm - 7:30 pm.

Joint presentation by Orewa and Whangaparaoa Libraries. A Literary Adventures event.

Laura Lee Guhrke
"From the publication of her very first historical romance, Laura Lee Guhrke has received numerous honors and critical acclaim for her novels and her writing style. She has been honored with the most prestigious award of romance fiction, the Romance Writers of America Rita Award, and she has received additional awards from Romantic Times and All About Romance. Romantic Times has proclaimed her, “One of the most natural voices in historical romance to be found today."

Karina Bliss
With a name like Bliss it was almost inevitable that Karina would become a Romance writer. For most of her working life she's been a journalist who wrote about travel for the New Zealand travel industry for close to a decade. She says "Now I have another job that on the surface looks glamorous and exciting. I’m a romance writer. Unfortunately not one of the ‘words pour out of me’ romance writers, but the ‘stare at the screen until your forehead bleeds’ variety.
Like motherhood, I thought it would be easy and it’s not."

Helen Kirkman
Helen Kirkman has always written stories - at home, at school, during the lunch break at her local government job, on the back of an envelope in a queue at the bank…
The breakthrough came when Helen won the Clendon Award for best unpublished romance manuscript. Harlequin bought her story and she now writes colourful historical stories for their mainstream romance imprint HQN Books.
Helen’s passion for colorful history provides the perfect backdrop for the powerful emotion in her writing.

Local author Jane Bissell visits Rodney Libraries

Local author Jane Bissell is speaking at Rodney Libraries over the next fortnight.

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

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

A Literary Adventure event.

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.

Event by Pauline Grogan at Whangaparaoa Library and Service Centre

It's not just about the kids this week. Pauline Grogan will be at Whangaparaoa Library and Service Centre this Thursday from 7pm to talk about her books and her new play.

Pauline is the author of 'Beyond the Veil' and 'A view from within'. Her one-woman play '500 letters' is being performed at Centrestage Theatre in Orewa, 10-12 October. Come and listen to this extraordinary woman and her extraordinary story.

For more information, see her website

http://www.paulinegrogan.co.nz/

Free entry, book at the library

A Literary Adventures 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.

Graeme Woodfield visits Kumeu Library today 10:30am

Author Graeme Woodfield talks about his new book "No ordinary man: the remarkable life of Arthur Porritt" at Kumeu Library at 10:30 am this morning.

Written together with Joseph Romanos it tells the story of a remarkable man.

Among his achievements:
- Rhodes Scholar.
- Olympic sprint medallist.- President of the Royal College of Surgeons and the British Medical Association.
- A member of the International Olympic Committee. - Chairman of the Commonwealth Games Federation.
- A decorated war hero, who was present during the D-Day landings.
- Surgeon to the Royal Family from 1936-67.
- The Governor-General of New Zealand from 1967-72. (He was the first New Zealand-born Governor General.)
- Knighted and later elevated to the peerage.

In addition to their own research, the authors have been given Arthur Porritt’s extensive unpublished memoirs, and have made maximum use of these.

Free entry. Tea and coffee provided.

Graeme will also be at Orewa Library on Wednesday October 1 at 2:30pm.

A Literary Adventure event.