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Coming EventsThe Top of the South Branch
of the New Zealand Society of Authors |
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This page provides information about events organised by the branch, by individual members, or of particular local interest. To have your event listed here, as well as in the fortnightly newsletter, contact the Branch Editor
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Tasman Writers
Tasman Writers meets monthly, at a time and place notified by email each month. Their next meeting will be on Thursday 28 October, 5 – 6.30 pm, at Community House, Decks Reserve, Motueka. The guest speaker will be freelance journalist Tracy Neal, who will be talking about her work writing for magazines, newspaper and radio. Tracy is a local writer who until recently was a senior reporter for Radio New Zealand (RNZ). She has extensive experience contributing to magazines and newspapers, including Nelson Mail. To see some of her most recent articles for RNZ, go to https://www.rnz.co.nz/authors/tracy-neal.
Tasman Writers welcomes everyone who writes, whatever your genre and whether you write for fun, for profit, for family, or for hiding in your desk. The get-togethers may include a speaker, and always have time for sharing ideas, asking questions, or discussing challenges. Gold coin koha.
For more information, or to have your name added to the mailing list, please contact Trish at dunrban@xtra.co.nz or Lucy at tosnzsa15@gmail.com
Tasman Writers welcomes everyone who writes, whatever your genre and whether you write for fun, for profit, for family, or for hiding in your desk. The get-togethers may include a speaker, and always have time for sharing ideas, asking questions, or discussing challenges. Gold coin koha.
For more information, or to have your name added to the mailing list, please contact Trish at dunrban@xtra.co.nz or Lucy at tosnzsa15@gmail.com
Writers at Lunchtime
Writers at Lunchtime takes place 11.30 am – 1.30 pm on the first Wednesday of every month (except January). There is usually a guest speaker at 12.30 pm. The venue is the Little Acorn Café at Saxton Lodge Motel, corner of Saxton Road and Main Road Stoke.
The next meeting is on Wednesday 3 November. The guest speaker will be Joanna Hamilton, author of Welcome to the World.
Written and illustrated by Joanna, Welcome to the World is a unique little gift book that welcomes a newborn baby into the world with love. This heartfelt poetic ode is for new mothers, siblings, care givers and all who wish to share their love for the new baby. The aesthetic of the book is Japanese simplicity, with hand drawings and a Baby’s Record page at the back of the book. Joanna
will be sharing information on the process of self-publishing and the marketing tips she learnt along the way.
Everyone is welcome. Come any time from 11.30 am, but make sure to be there at 12.30 pm for Joanna’s talk. For more information contact Belinda at bmellor12@icloud.com or Sue at 021 061 6470.
The next meeting is on Wednesday 3 November. The guest speaker will be Joanna Hamilton, author of Welcome to the World.
Written and illustrated by Joanna, Welcome to the World is a unique little gift book that welcomes a newborn baby into the world with love. This heartfelt poetic ode is for new mothers, siblings, care givers and all who wish to share their love for the new baby. The aesthetic of the book is Japanese simplicity, with hand drawings and a Baby’s Record page at the back of the book. Joanna
will be sharing information on the process of self-publishing and the marketing tips she learnt along the way.
Everyone is welcome. Come any time from 11.30 am, but make sure to be there at 12.30 pm for Joanna’s talk. For more information contact Belinda at bmellor12@icloud.com or Sue at 021 061 6470.
Golden Bay Writers Group
The Golden Bay Writers Group meets monthly in Takaka. Meet up to connect, work on writing projects and share feedback in a supportive way.
The next meeting will be held Saturday 6 November from 10 – 12.30 at the GB Community Arts Council, 24 Commercial Street. If you love to write, join us! In this group we write and creativity flourishes. Within a two and half hour time frame we write for four minutes, then 40 minutes. We like to start promptly at 10 am to make the most of the time, so arrive at 9.50 am. Please bring your own paper/writing journals and pens, as well as cash koha for the use of the venue. The theme for November is ‘Exploring within and/ or externally’.
We believe everyone is a writer. We provide a safe space to both write and share our writing. A primary intent of connecting in this way is to hear each other’s work and to reflect on its impact upon us rather than offering critical review. Our aim is ease; writing, reading and responding are all optional.
Everyone is welcome to Golden Bay Writers Group meetings. The date and venue can vary, so for details contact Charlotte Squire at 027 525 7455 or charlottesquirecoms@gmail.com
The next meeting will be held Saturday 6 November from 10 – 12.30 at the GB Community Arts Council, 24 Commercial Street. If you love to write, join us! In this group we write and creativity flourishes. Within a two and half hour time frame we write for four minutes, then 40 minutes. We like to start promptly at 10 am to make the most of the time, so arrive at 9.50 am. Please bring your own paper/writing journals and pens, as well as cash koha for the use of the venue. The theme for November is ‘Exploring within and/ or externally’.
We believe everyone is a writer. We provide a safe space to both write and share our writing. A primary intent of connecting in this way is to hear each other’s work and to reflect on its impact upon us rather than offering critical review. Our aim is ease; writing, reading and responding are all optional.
Everyone is welcome to Golden Bay Writers Group meetings. The date and venue can vary, so for details contact Charlotte Squire at 027 525 7455 or charlottesquirecoms@gmail.com
Mawhera Writers (Greymouth)
Formerly West Coast Writers, this group welcomes writers of all genres to write together, get feedback on their work, and to discuss all things ‘writing’ in a respectful, encouraging environment. Don't worry about your level of experience – everyone is welcome! The group meets on the first and third Sunday of each month, 11 am – 1 pm, at the Left Bank Gallery, 1 Tainui Street, Greymouth. Gold coin donation for venue appreciated.
Their next meetings will be on Sunday 7 & 21 November. Contact Katrina Brown at kbtaiwan@gmail.com for more details and to go on the group mailing list. Follow them on Facebook at https://bit.ly/FB-MawheraWriters to find and share writing-related updates and discussion relevant to the group.
Their next meetings will be on Sunday 7 & 21 November. Contact Katrina Brown at kbtaiwan@gmail.com for more details and to go on the group mailing list. Follow them on Facebook at https://bit.ly/FB-MawheraWriters to find and share writing-related updates and discussion relevant to the group.
STEMWriters at Nelson Library
STEMWriters is a small group with widely varying interests in writing, from short fiction to social commentary, social history and poetry. They meet on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 1 pm at the Elma Turner Library in Nelson. The next meetings will be on Tuesdays 9 & 23 November, levels permitting. For more information contact Jackie Cook at taongajac@gmail.com
Nelson Romance Writers
The Nelson branch of Romance Writers of NZ (RWNZ) usually meets on the second Saturday of every month at 2 pm. The venue is the Nightingale Library Memorial, 2 Beach Road, Tahunanui. Visitors are always welcome. If you are not an RWNZ member, you are welcome to attend a meeting before deciding whether or not to join.
The next meeting will be on Saturday 13 November, when we will be learning about setting up a website. For more information contact Annika Ohlson-Smith at 03-548 5561 or email amos46@xtra.co.nz
The next meeting will be on Saturday 13 November, when we will be learning about setting up a website. For more information contact Annika Ohlson-Smith at 03-548 5561 or email amos46@xtra.co.nz
Courage Day Event in Nelson
Every 15 November throughout the world, PEN – the international writers’ organisation that champions freedom of expression – marks the International Day of the Imprisoned Writer.
NZSA, which incorporates PEN, honours this event as Courage Day. It is named jointly after James Courage, a novelist and poet whose novel A Way of Love was banned because he dared to express homosexuality in his writing, and his grandmother Sarah Courage, whose book describing colonial life in New Zealand was burned by neighbours who resented comments they thought she made about them.
Courage Day recognises writers who defend the right of free speech, and those who suffer oppression and are killed or imprisoned for their work. The day is being observed in Nelson by an outdoor event on Monday 15 November at 5.30 pm in Queens Gardens (Hardy Street entrance). Local poets will read works by imprisoned writers, and there will be music from violinist Juliet Ayre. Light refreshments will be provided, or bring a picnic tea.
To learn more about Courage Day and the work of PEN, go to: https://authors.org.nz/freedom-of-expression/courage-day-and-the-empty-chair-campaign/
NZSA, which incorporates PEN, honours this event as Courage Day. It is named jointly after James Courage, a novelist and poet whose novel A Way of Love was banned because he dared to express homosexuality in his writing, and his grandmother Sarah Courage, whose book describing colonial life in New Zealand was burned by neighbours who resented comments they thought she made about them.
Courage Day recognises writers who defend the right of free speech, and those who suffer oppression and are killed or imprisoned for their work. The day is being observed in Nelson by an outdoor event on Monday 15 November at 5.30 pm in Queens Gardens (Hardy Street entrance). Local poets will read works by imprisoned writers, and there will be music from violinist Juliet Ayre. Light refreshments will be provided, or bring a picnic tea.
To learn more about Courage Day and the work of PEN, go to: https://authors.org.nz/freedom-of-expression/courage-day-and-the-empty-chair-campaign/
Richmond Writing Group
The Richmond Writing Group is for adults with an interest in writing – whether you’re just thinking about starting to write something, you’re a published author, or somewhere in between. The group meets on the third Tuesday of the month, 1 – 3 pm, in the Constance Barnicoat Room at Richmond Library. In the first hour there is an author talk, then from 2 pm everyone is welcome to join the Richmond Writing Group for an hour of discussion or creative writing exercises in a relaxed, supportive atmosphere. It’s free to attend and anyone of any ability can come. Bring writing materials.
The next meeting will be on Tuesday 16 November, provided we are at Alert Level 1. For more information contact Pania Walton, Promotions Assistant, Richmond Library at pania.walton@tasman.govt.nz
The next meeting will be on Tuesday 16 November, provided we are at Alert Level 1. For more information contact Pania Walton, Promotions Assistant, Richmond Library at pania.walton@tasman.govt.nz
Writing Retreat with Elizabeth Knox
Elizabeth Knox returns to the Top of the South to run her third retreat here. From 3 - 8 December, 'Find Your Way Forward III' is an opportunity to immerse yourself in your writing for four full days with the support of acclaimed New Zealand author Elizabeth Knox CNZM, D. Litt (author of The Absolute Book, The Vintner's Luck, Dreamhunter and Dreamquake).
The retreat takes place at Abel Tasman Lodge, just over an hour’s drive from Nelson. The all-inclusive package includes tuition, accommodation, yoga, Abel Tasman National Park walks and scrumptious food. There is a discount for twin share. There are only 2 places left, so don’t delay if you are interested. Find out more at https://writeacrossnewzealand.com/elizabeth-knox-2021-writing-retreat
The retreat takes place at Abel Tasman Lodge, just over an hour’s drive from Nelson. The all-inclusive package includes tuition, accommodation, yoga, Abel Tasman National Park walks and scrumptious food. There is a discount for twin share. There are only 2 places left, so don’t delay if you are interested. Find out more at https://writeacrossnewzealand.com/elizabeth-knox-2021-writing-retreat