Festival attracts varied crowd

Authors Xanthe White (left), Judith White, Witi Ihimaera and Grant Smithies chat with Wanganui Mayor Annette Main at the Whanganui Literary Festival opening on Friday night. PHOTO/STUART MUNRO 200913WCSMLITERARY - FESTIVAL

Audiences at the Whanganui Literary Festival were as diverse as the authors they came to see, said the festival organiser.

The festival, a biennial event that began in 2006, was held at the War Memorial Centre during the weekend, with other events at the Alexander Library and Element Cafe.

Authors included Witi Ihimaera, Joe Bennett, Gregory O'Brien, Xanthe and Judith White, Christine Leunens, John Adams, Geoff Thomas and Grant Smithies.

Organiser Joan Rosier-Jones said it was interesting to see the variety of people at the author talks.

"There are those who bought a season ticket and we saw them at everything. But there were gardeners who came to see Xanthe White, hunting people for Geoff Thomas, music buffs for Grant Smithies. It was wonderful," Ms Rosier-Jones said.

Although the number of attendees is not yet available, Ms Rosier-Jones said the numbers were well up from the last festival.

"This time we made the decision to move the events to the War Memorial Hall because last time we had to turn people away from the Alexander Library.

"It was a bit of a risk, but it paid off. For two events we nearly had a full house, and the others were well attended."

Nearly 300 people attended talks by Witi Ihimaera and Joe Bennett. Ms Rosier-Jones said the authors enjoyed coming to the festival because it was smaller and friendlier than festivals in the large cities.

Her personal highlight of the weekend was listening to Gregory O'Brien.

"We called his talk 'Renaissance Man', and he really is a renaissance man.

"He's a poet, an artist, a critic, a reviewer and a curator. He's very inspiring."

The next festival will be held in 2015.