Top New Zealand author to visit Hamilton Central Library

Award-winning New Zealand author Dame Fiona Kidman will be holding a public talk at Hamilton Central Library next Thursday [30 October] at 12.30pm.

A prolific author of novels, short stories, poems and plays, Fiona Kidman is highly regarded as one of New Zealand's top writers. Her latest book, At The End of Darwin Road: a Memoir, was published earlier this year and has received rave reviews due to its personal nature and engaging prose.

Hamilton City Libraries Community Programmes Manager Fiona Johnson said it has been about 10 years since Kidman's last visit to Central Library and the facility is looking forward to welcoming her back.

"We are very lucky to have this opportunity to hear one of New Zealand's best known authors and we look forward to welcoming such a distinguished speaker to Hamilton," she said.

Kidman has received constant praise for her quality writing and earlier this year was awarded the $100,000 Creative New Zealand Michael King Writers' Fellowship 2008. She has received numerous other awards including the 2006 Meridian Energy Katherine Mansfield Fellowship and was awarded an OBE for services to literature in 1988. She became a dame in 1998.

Book sales and signings will also be available during Kidman's visit.