Literary festival aimed at youngsters

ROBYN EDIE 624307891

TICKETS FLOURISH: Dan Davin Literary Foundation administrator Rebecca Amundsen and Invercargill Library outreach librarian Kirsty Graham with tickets to the main events in the upcoming Readers and Writers Alive festival.

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The organisers of a reading and writing festival are hoping a few high-profile names will help entice young blood to the profes-sion.

The Readers and Writers Alive festival will be held in Invercargill next month and in May, and is a joint effort by the Dan Davin Literary Foundation and the Invercargill Library.

The festival follows on from two highly successful similar events held last year.

Dan Davin Literary Foundation administrator Rebecca Amundsen said high school students or teenagers interested in reading and writing often missed out on community workshops or events, so it was hoped the festival would cater for that gap.

Events had been geared towards the teenage audience, and some prominent industry names also included to help attract younger participants, she said.

Included in the lineup were graphic novelist and comic book author Dylan Horrocks and poet Sam Hunt, who would lead writing workshops for high school students.

Hunt would also be involved in a poetry evening with poet laureate and Southland resident Cilla McQueen, and esteemed poet James Norcliffe.

Invercargill Library outreach librarian Kirsty Graham said the festival was a great way for young people to learn more about writing, and it was hoped, through the targeted workshops, they would be encouraged to have a go.

"This year we are really encouraging them to come forward and get involved," she said.

However, even though some events were targeted towards younger participants, there would be plenty on offer for people of all ages, abilities, and interests, she said.

Tickets for the festival's main events are available from the Invercargill i-Site.

Registration forms for the workshops are available from the Invercargill Library.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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