Auckland Writers Festival presents a new programme that bends genres, breaks rules and rewrites the festival script.
Enjoy lit outside the lines with Plot Twist: the programme that bends genres, breaks rules and rewrites the Festival script.
On Sunday 17 May, Auckland Writers Festival is taking over every inch of Q Theatre with spoken word, tarot, dark academia, romance and surprises around every corner. Spill out into the Q Theatre foyer to soak up the atmosphere with our bookstall, free zine-making with Auckland Zinefest, DJs, BookTok meet-ups and more.
Sessions are ticketed but head to the Q foyer for drop-in free zine making with Auckland Zinefest, BookTok meet ups, DJs and more, all day.
CARDS ON THE TABLE: TAROT AND WRITING
11.50am–12.50pm
Venue: Vault
Claire Mabey (The Raven’s Eye Rebellion) presents a hands-on introduction to using tarot to unlock creativity.
12.40–1.40pm
Venue: Rangatira
A steamy session discussing the hottest genre in the book world with Ruby Wallace, Ivy Cliffwater and Shanna Tan.
Supported by Korean Cultural Centre.
DREAMING FOR THE OCEAN WITHIN US: TANGATA MOANA WRITERS & DESIRE
1.00–2.00pm
Venue: Loft
A bold, intimate conversation exploring Pacific writing beyond expectation and what writers are reaching for when they choose desire as a compass. With Tusiata Avia, Amber Esau and Danielle Kionasina Dilys Thomson with Ruby Macomber.
NO ONE CARES ABOUT YOUR WRITING THE WAY YOU DO
1.20–2.20pm
Venue: Vault
Best-selling author Dominic Hoey shares practical tools for thriving outside the traditional system and industry.
2.10–3.10pm
Venue: Rangatira
Travel down to the depths of hell with RF Kuang (Katabasis), Nikita Gill (Hekate) and Rachel Smythe (Lore Olympus).
Supported by Culture Ireland.
2.30–3.30pm
Venue: Loft
Josh Silver, David A. Robertson and Karina McHardy discuss navigating neurodiversity and mental health, and the fight for better support.
Supported by the British Council New Zealand and the Pacific.
2.50–3.50pm
Venue: Vault
Reclaim and queer texts in a Blackout Poetry workshop and kōrero with Hebe Kearney and Nathan Joe.
3.40–4.40pm
Venue: Rangatira
Cosy’s out. Weird’s in. Mieko Kawakami, Bora Chung and Laura Borrowdale dig into the darkly speculative and surreal.
Supported by Literature Translation Institute of Korea.
HOT TAKES, SHARP LINES: A SPOKEN WORD ROUND TABLE
4.00–5.00pm
Venue: Loft
Poetry, mischief and unforgettable storytelling featuring Dominic Hoey, Mr Meaty Boy (Ngāti Porou, Ngāpuhi), Liam Jacobson (Kāi Tahu), Amber Esau (Ngāpuhi, Manase) and Michael Pedersen.
Supported by Scottish Books International.
DYSTOPIA AS PROTEST: WRITE THE FUTURE THAT FIGHTS BACK
4.20–5.20pm
Venue: Vault
Explore how dystopian fiction questions the present and disrupts the status quo with Josh Silver.
Supported by the British Council New Zealand and the Pacific.
LOVE WON, LOVE LOST, LOVE BURNED UP IN FLAMES
5.10–6.10pm
Venue: Rangatira
Hearts soaring, hearts broken and everything in between. Seven writers tell intimate, passionate, uplifting and devastating stories of love.
95BFM’S THE WIRE: QUESTION TIME
5.30–6.30pm
Venue: Loft
bFM and guests unpack the week’s biggest stories in Aotearoa and tackle the questions that matter to you.
Presented by Auckland Writers Festival
RANGATIRA: Early bird $25; Standard $30; Patrons $20.50; Students $13.50.
LOFT: $10
VAULT: $30
