News Release – for immediate release

Award-winning authors ‘in conversation’ with Maggie Barry & Kim Hill

Two Free Public Events – Auckland & Wellington

Book-lovers, mark your page now: the New Zealand Post Book Award-winning writers of 2010 will be speaking at two free author events in Auckland and Wellington.

Don’t miss this opportunity to hear New Zealand’s best writers come together to discuss their books, love of writing, inspirations and challenges and the books currently on their own ‘must-read’ lists.

The winners of our major literary awards for contemporary writing will be announced at a gala dinner ceremony on Friday 27 August.

Readers can hear the Book of the Year winner, Fiction winner, Poetry winner, Illustrated Non-fiction winner, General Non-fiction winner and People’s Choice Award winner live in conversation with Maggie Barry in Auckland the following day, and with Kim Hill in Wellington the following weekend.

Booksellers NZ Chief Executive, Lincoln Gould says readers should hurry to secure seats by pre-registering online. ‘You would be unlikely to find the authors of this year’s best books all together in a single event again, this is a rare opportunity.’

The writers will be talking about their books, research, writing, new projects, what inspires them, and what they’re reading now. An audience question and answer session will follow, and copies of the authors’ Award-winning books will be available for purchase and signing at both events.

‘Meet the 2010 New Zealand Post Book Awards Winners’

– in conversation with Maggie Barry

Auckland, The Langham Hotel, 83 Symonds St, Saturday 28 August, 11am-12.30pm, Free entry.

‘Meet the 2010 New Zealand Post Book Awards Winners

– in conversation with Kim Hill

Wellington, Te Papa (on the Marae) Sunday 5 September, 1-2.30pm, Free entry.

Register online to attend and you’ll be in to win a set of the winning books: http://www.booksellers.co.nz/awards/new-zealand-post-book-awards/winners-2010/register-winners-event

New Zealand Post Group’s sponsorship of the country’s national book awards is symbolic of their strong and active support of the country’s literature. As sponsor of the New Zealand Post Children’s Book Awards for 15 years, this new sponsorship highlights the company’s commitment to making literature accessible and promoting literary excellence. Working closely with Booksellers NZ, New Zealand Post and other dedicated segments of the community actively encourage New Zealanders to read and enjoy books. The New Zealand Post Book Awards 2010 are also funded by Creative New Zealand.  The Awards are managed by Booksellers NZ and supported by the New Zealand Society of Authors and Book Tokens (NZ) Ltd.

ENDS