Embracing the void: a powerhouse writer turns to self-publishing
Stephanie Johnson is an acclaimed, multi-award-winning New Zealand author, and also the co-founder of the Auckland Writers Festival. But could she get her latest novel published? Yeah, nah.
Papercuts: Auckland Writers Festival and a special guest
Welcome back to Papercuts, our monthly books podcast hosted by Louisa Kasza, Jenna Todd and Kiran Dass.
10 surefire hits in the 2019 Auckland Writers Festival programme
The country's biggest literary festival has just launched its programme, and it's another very impressive lineup.
In which Amazon goes to war with New Zealand bookstores
An essay by Sarah Forster from Booksellers New Zealand about the threat that Amazon-owned Book Depository pose to bookstores - and, ultimately, readers.
Papercuts podcast: The great Auckland Writers Festival wrap-up
Kiran, Jenna and Louisa bunker down on level 5 of the Aotea Centre to record on-the-ground reactions from three days at the Auckland Writers Festival.
Please ban festival audiences from asking questions forever
Has there ever been a good question asked by an audience member at a literary festival? Going by the Auckland Writers Festival, the answer appears to be no, uh-uh, never.
When the bottom falls out: a masterpiece on a town that died
Amy Goldstein wanted to know what happened to the ordinary people impacted by the GFC. She tells Duncan Greive about the extraordinary book she wrote showing what happened after GM shut its oldest manufacturing plant.
Papercuts podcast: The bumper Auckland Writers Festival preview show
Louisa, Jenna and Kiran are back a little early to make sure you're all up to speed with the upcoming Auckland Writers Festival.
World’s greatest writer Karl Ove Knausgård is coming to New Zealand
Exclusive: announcing the imminent arrival of hirsute herring-eating huge Norwegian literary superstar Karl Ove Knausgård.
Book of the Week: Sour Heart by the ‘astounding’ Jenny Zhang
An essay by Sam Gaskin – with GIFs! – about his old friend and now superstar author Jenny Zhang.
Auckland Writers Festival: Rachael King interviews Ivan Coyote
We conclude our week-long series of encounters with guests due to appear at the Auckland Writers Festival as Rachael King interviews the fairly fucken fantastic Ivan Coyote.
Auckland Writers Festival: Charlotte Graham interviews feminist author Susan Faludi
The best coverage of the Auckland Writers Festival continues right here, as the Spinoff Review of Books devotes the entire week to long, intelligent encounters with guest writers. Today: Charlotte Graham talks with Susan Faludi, author of the classic 1991 book Backlash.
Auckland Writers Festival: Simon Wilson interviews food writer Jay Rayner
Simon Wilson talks with Jay Rayner, a man who can demolish the reputation of the poshest restaurant with a single review, but is rather more interested in saving the world.
Auckland Writers Festival: Holly Walker interviews I Love Dick author Chris Kraus
The best coverage of the Auckland Writers Festival continues right here, as the Spinoff Review of Books devotes the entire week to long, intelligent encounters with guest writers. Today: Holly Walker talks with Chris Kraus, an American writer who worked for newspapers in Wellington before creating the belated smash-hit feminist novel, I Love Dick.
Auckland Writers Festival: Hera Lindsay Bird interviews George Saunders
The very best coverage of the Auckland Writers Festival - the most expansive, the most intelligent - is right here, as the Spinoff Review of Books devotes the entire week to encounters with guest writers. Today: Hera Lindsay Bird talks with George Saunders, author of Lincoln in the Bardo, the stand-out novel of 2017.
When literary festivals go bad: CK Stead and Steve Braunias on famous poets, drunk as motherfuckers live on stage
The good and the great of world literature are about to descend as guest speakers at the 2017 Auckland Writers Festival. Will anyone go off the rails? CK Stead (followed by Steve Braunias, in a postscript) recall writers behaving badly onstage.
Let the programme makers get on with it: Armando Iannucci’s advice to NZ TV commissioners
In an early Auckland Writers Festival appearance, the creator of Veep and The Thick of It urged network execs to resist meddling – and chipped in on the great New Zealand political pizza debate.
Book of the Week: the best novel of 2017, Lincoln in the Bardo
Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders is the year's most talked-about novel, and there's much excitement that the author will appear at the Auckland Writers Festival in May. Wyoming Paul reviews what may a masterpiece.
We cross live to the launch of the Auckland Writers Festival
A lawyer has run amok at the Auckland Art Gallery at the launch of the Auckland Writers Festival. The Spinoff Review of Books was there.
The guy who writes really good novels about totally repulsive assholes
Dutch novelist Herman Koch writes page-turning thrillers about the repulsiveness of the people next door in middle-class neighbourhoods. Kiran Dass interviewed him ahead of his appearance at the Auckland Writers Festival.
Book of the Week: Fiona Kidman reviews the amazing Helen Garner
Fiona Kidman once had Helen Garner over for dinner. It did not go well.
An interview with the world’s greatest essayist, Andrew O’Hagan
In which Spinoff Review of Books editor Steve Braunias sits down with London writer Andrew O'Hagan in Wellington, and they talk for one hour and 41 minutes.
I’m Your Biggest Fan – A Devoted Reader Attempts to Befriend Eleanor Catton
Many readers have imaginary relationships with their favourite authors, but few manage to turn fantasy into reality. Madeleine Chapman tells how she tried to bridge the gap between fandom and friendship with author Eleanor Catton
