Word Cafe Raglan is set to brighten the end of winter for Raglan residents and visitors, with a stellar line-up of New Zealand writers, illustrators, photographers and other book-related people.
To be held at the Raglan Town Hall from August 14-16, the festival aims to celebrate and foster local talent, alongside bringing top authors and illustrators into the town.
Highlights will include recipient of the 2014 Katherine Mansfield Menton Fellowship and current University of Waikato writer in residence Mandy Hager; true crime writer and well-known TV presenter Scott Bainbridge; popular children's author Dawn McMillan; and editor of Arrival travel magazine and Hamilton News columnist Latesha Randall.
Saturday night's keynote speaker is James George who, as well as being an award-winning author and creative writing teacher, is the current chairperson of the writers committee of Toi Maori Aotearoa - Maori Arts New Zealand.
This year's festival has a strong focus on visual storytelling: book illustrators Kat Merewether and Deborah Hinde, and graphic novelist Paul Martin will be hosting an illustration panel, while Raglan wildlife photographer Trevor Penfold will talk about his life behind the lens.