Gala opening

Tonight was the first of 46 book related events happening in Wellington over the next six days. Kate de Goldi valiently attempted to lead four disparate writers in a conversation about the modern novel dropping several quotable remarks into the proceedings e.g. novels are adventurous wanderings in other lands, an opportunity to explore the outer reaches of human behaviour, report on experience speaking a realistic truth.
The authors spoke for themselves and failed to find any common ground; Gil Adamson said that reading novels didn't help her learn to write them, Audrey Niffenegger claimed that reading is everything. Neil Cross likes action but Kamila Shamsie is fascinated by words.
This panel introduced the authors and gave them all chance to comment on how they write their fiction but I am keen to hear Audrey Niffenegger and Kamila Shamsie in their own sessions tomorrow. They will have more time to explore the balance between reality and fantasy (Niffenegger) and between politics and domesticity (Shamsie). I won't be following up Neil Cross!