Library Hosts City's First 'Storylines' Festival

Dunedin will host its first ‘Storylines Family Day’ at the City Library on 20 August, bringing some of New Zealand’s finest children’s authors and illustrators face-to-face with their fans.

Storylines is a charitable organisation started by New Zealand children’s authors to celebrate children’s literature. It has run a successful festival in all the other major centres for a number of years. Dunedin City Library was approached late in 2010 about the opportunity to bring the Storylines Festival to Dunedin, and jumped at the chance.

Some of New Zealand’s best children’s and young adult authors will be at the City Library to launch books, sign autographs, provide workshops, talk about their work and read their stories out loud, while many of the country’s finest illustrators will be creating artwork, participating in talks, signing books and working with children on a variety of fun activities.

International author, Chris Morphew will have young readers rushing for an autograph as pseudonym writer for cult series Zac Powers, and creator of The Pheonix Files. Fans will also have the chance to swap ideas with the young writer as he participates in a debate in the Teen Space, and helps inspire hopefuls for the writing competition.

The event is free of charge, and will take place on four levels of the City Library. Other highlights will include storytellers Kaitrin McMullan and Liz Weir for younger children, workshops and debates for adults and teenagers, a world of discovery with Orokonui Ecosanctuary in Factopia, performances from local children, face painting, competitions, and a host of different craft tables to create mementoes of the day.

Lynette Hartgill, DPL Marketing Co-ordinator explains: “We hope Dunedin families come out en masse for this as it’s a chance for our children to meet the authors and artists who spark their imaginations. This festival should be one to mark on the calendar every year!”

Meet the Authors
Jennifer Beck. Stephania’s Dancing Slippers, Remember that November
Tessa Duder. Jellybean
David Hill. Fire on High
Kyle Mewburn. Kiss, Kiss, Yuck, Yuck. Old Hu-Hu
Chris Morphew. Zac Powers, The Pheonix Files
Elizabeth Pulford. The Littlest Angel
Tania Roxburgh. Banquo’s Son, Bloodlines

Meet the Illustrators
Robyn Belton. Greedy Cat, Herbert the Brave Sea Dog
Donovan Bixley. Faithfully Mozart, The Wheels on the Bus, Wacko Kakapo
Rachel Driscoll. Old Hu-Hu
David Elliot. The Word Witch, Farmer McPhee and the Moon, Redwall
Lindy Fisher. Stephania’s Dancing Slippers, Remember that November