As one of New Zealand's foremost literary figures, CK (Karl) Stead has plenty of wisdom to impart when it comes to language and writing.
He will share some of that wisdom with a Whanganui audience when he talks about Getting the Language Right with Whanganui writer Joan Rosier-Jones at the literary festival in October.
Stead is a novelist, literary critic, poet, essayist and emeritus professor of English of the University of Auckland.
Read more: Whanganui poet Chris Moisa part of literary festival
Nick Bollinger features at festival
At 84, he has also just completed two years as New Zealand's Poet Laureate, published a book of his short stories The Name On the Door is Not Mine and written a new novel The Necessary Angel due for publication next month.
The novel, he says, is set in Paris and covers an 18-month period in the life of a New Zealand teacher working at the Sorbonne.
"It is a lively and amusing story which starts in mid-2014. It is set against a backdrop of events like the Charlie Hebdo shootings and the rally for national unity that followed."
Stead says he hoped to attend the book launch of his Poet Laureate successor, Selina Tusitala Marsh, in Auckland last Friday but he had three other engagements that day.
"It was National Poetry Day and I had readings in town and in Devonport so I had to drive back and forth across the harbour bridge.
"I very much wanted to attend Selina's launch but I just had too much on."
The writer says he last visited Whanganui in the 1970s when late writer Janet Frame was living here.
"We planned to visit Jerusalem but we only had a day and it was going to take a long time to get there.
"I hope to see a bit more on this visit because I will have the Saturday free to have a look around."
Stead has won and been nominated for many literary awards and fellowships, including the Creative New Zealand Michael King Writers' Fellowship in 2005. He was made a Member of the Order of New Zealand in 2007.
CK Stead will discuss his work with Joan Rosier Jones at the Whanganui War Memorial Concert Chamber from 7.30 - 8pm on Friday October 6. Book at Royal Wanganui Opera House . royaloperahouse.co.nz