Dunedin Writers and Readers Festival

Award-winning hip-hop artist, social entrepreneur and writer Akala will talk with Paula Morris about his bestselling debut Natives, a searing, modern polemic on race and class in the British Empire. His memoir reflects on growing up poor, mixed race and politicised in Britain during the 1980s and ’90s and offers a nuanced historical treatise that The Guardian has lauded as “the kind of disruptive, aggressive intellect that a new generation is closely watching”. This show was broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin www.oar.org.nz

We bring together two audacious feminist writers who put their heads well above the parapets with their recent books: Lizzie Marvelly, author of That F Word: Growing up Feminist in Aotearoa and Australian author Clementine Ford, whose bestselling book Fight Like a Girl was described by one reader as “an unapologetic roar for equality”. Ford and Marvelly will compare trans-Tasman notes on that ‘F’ word, trolls and feminism’s current trajectory. Barbara Brookes (author of A History of New Zealand Women) will steer the conversation.​ This show was broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin www.oar.org.nz

Karori Confidential, a collection of Sunday columns by the award-winning Leah McFall, is full of her trademark wit and daring. No subject is too sacred or small (leakproof pants, her cervix, Marie Kondo or royal wedding cakes). Stand-up comedian and writer Michèle A’Court finds her humour in similar places: “Telling jokes doesn’t necessarily speak to natural wit. We tell our stories.” And she should know – she was named Comedian of the Decade at the 2010 NZ Comedy Awards and won the Funniest Column Award (NZ Comedy Guild) in 2015. Otago Daily Times columnist Liz Breslin will quiz A’Court and McFall about where they mine their funnies, the importance of tone and who makes them chuckle. This show was broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin www.oar.org.nz

One of the most talented shapeshifters of the New Zealand literary world,Vincent O’Sullivan is a poet, short story writer, novelist, playwright, librettist, biographer, editor and critic. His latest work, the secret-laden family saga All This By Chance, is his first novel in 20 years and a frontrunner for this year’s Ockham New Zealand Book Awards. Reviewer Nicholas Reid called it “as outstanding a novel as has been produced in this country in the last 10 years”. Fergus Barrowman will quiz O’Sullivan on his latest novel, his 60-year career and how he got so darned accomplished. This show was broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin www.oar.org.nz

In her introduction to Headlands: New Stories of Anxiety, Naomi Arnold notes, “In 2017, one in five New Zealanders sought help for a diagnosed mood or anxiety disorder... but the real figures will be even higher than that, and they’re growing.” Arnold will join two others who’ve done their bit to destigmatise mental illness: Ashleigh Young, one of the contributors to Headlands, and Wendy Parkins, whose new memoir Every morning, so far, I’m alive covers her battle with depression, contamination phobia and OCD. They’ll talk to journalist Charlotte Graham-McLay about their experiences and the importance of shining a light on mental health. This show was broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin www.oar.org.nz

Six of our international/NZ festival guests tackle the theme ‘Distracted’. Each will speak about guarding creative space amid today’s digital noise. The line-up is astonishingly good: John Boyne (Ireland), Markus Zusak (Australia), Clementine Ford(Australia), Akala (UK), Tina Makereti(NZ) and Chris Tse (NZ), with MC Michèle A’Court. This show was broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin www.oar.org.nz

Liam McIlvanney has been described as a master of Tartan noir. His latest novel The Quaker was crowned Scottish Crime Book of the Year in 2018. Based on the unsolved Bible John murders that shocked Glasgow in the 1960s (which McIlvanney describes as “a kind of West of Scotland equivalent of the Kennedy assassination”) the book takes its own fictional trajectory while capturing the menace and soot-grimy atmosphere that prevailed in Glasgow at that time. McIlvanney will talk with Steve Braunias (author of The Scene of the Crime) about mixing murderous fact with fiction, how to write a good ghost and other dark matters. This show was broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin www.oar.org.nz

Indie-rock legend Shayne Carter (best known for his bands Straitjacket Fits and Dimmer) will talk about his new autobiography, Dead People I Have Known. Shihad’s Jon Toogood gave the book this verdict: “Sometimes profound. Sometimes utterly hilarious. I couldn’t put this book down. A triumph.” Carter will talk about his stellar music career, the Dunedin Sound, his love of sport, growing up in Dunedin, and everything in between. Chaired by Carter’s former driving student Steve Braunias. This show was broadcast on OAR 105.4FM Dunedin www.oar.org.nz