Among the big names from overseas, John Carey, William Dalrymple, Lionel Shriver and Colm Toibin, attending the Auckland Writers and Readers Festival our own New Zealand authors were equally articulate, interesting and challenging. And many of them are known internationally too; C.K. Stead has recently won the inaugural Sunday Times (UK) short story competition, Rachel King's first novel
The Sound of butterflies was published in nine countries, Paula Morris teaches creative writing in New Orleans and was a finalist for the Commonwealth writers prize.
King and Morris discussed their books, their research, their approach to writing and their reading preferences with a great chairperson, Dorothy Vinicombe, and an attentive audience. They are both New Zealand writers but with worldwide perspective.
Personally I prefer the writing of Rachel King (pictured) which I find
detailed and atmospheric. Her novels are certainly unusual; they are historical dealing with ancestry, inheritance, collecting, tattooes, taxidermy but, especially in
Magpie Hall, she brings those preoccupations right up to date. Read it and enjoy!
Her own blog, called
the sound of butterflies, is well worth reading too.
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