Making the most of Mondays 20 August: Degrees of clarity - Geoff Cochrane Geoff Cochrane has released two novels and five books of From mid-July each year, the International Institute of Modern Programme poetry with Victoria University Press since 1992, the latest of Letters, home of Victoria University’s renowned creative writing which is titled 84-484 (his grandparents’ phone number in the programme, runs a series of events highlighting writers active in 50s). Over that time he has built a following of discerning and around Wellington as well as guests from overseas. The 16 July: Lavinia Greenlaw readers, but has made few public appearances. We thought it popular series returns to City Gallery Wellington to brighten up UK writer and reviewer Lavinia Greenlaw has published three was time for an encounter with the man whose writing is ‘both the start of the week. critically acclaimed books of poetry and two novels — Mary stubbornly austere and wonderfully witty’, and whose George of Allnorthover, which won France’s Prix du Premier conversation ‘has the range of a voracious reader and the depth In 2007 the series offers a feast for poetry fans, starting with UK Roman Etranger, and An Irresponsible Age. Her awards include an of some voracious living’ (Damien Wilkins). Poet James Brown poet and novelist Lavinia Greenlaw, followed by eight of the Arts Council of England Writers’ Award and a Forward Prize chairs the event. best: Wellington poets whose work appears in Best New and her interest in science has led to residencies at the Science 27 August: Michelangelo & Co - Vincent Moleta Zealand Poems 06 read their work on 23 July, then Museum and the Royal Society of Medicine. Her work for BBC In 2006 Vincent Moleta presented a fascinating talk on the conversations with visiting poets Dora Malech and Andrew radio includes programmes about the Arctic and the Baltic, the poetry of Umberto Saba to an appreciative audience at the IIML. Johnston on 30 July. The focus then shifts to theatre as solstices and equinoxes, Emily Dickinson, and Dutch landscape We thought a wider audience might enjoy the opportunity to playwright Dave Armstrong offers a preview of his work-in- painting. She talks with Bill Manhire about her work. hear from this charming and erudite man, so this month progress. James Brown quizzes poet Geoff Cochrane about his 23 July: Best New Zealand Poems 06 Vincent Moleta returns from Australia to his home town of writing life, and we take a tour of Italian poetry with Vincent http://www.victoria.ac.nz/bestnzpoems. Wellington to talk about the poetry of Michelangelo, Saba, and Moleta. September is given over to the voices of the future with In the lead-up to Montana National Poetry Day, ten poets put about his work as a translator and publisher of Italian poetry, four events that showcase the emerging talent of the MA (Script their best feet forward. Jenny Bornholdt, James Brown, Alistair with chair Marco Sonzogni. and Page) programme at the IIML. The Next Page and Te Ariki Campbell, Geoff Cochrane, Anna Jackson, Andrew 3 September: How to talk - Andrew Johnston Short/Sharp/Script events have always been among the liveliest Johnston, Gregory O'Brien, Chris Price, J. C. Sturm and Alison Andrew Johnston has a subtle and distinctive poetic voice that and most enjoyable in the series, and a great way to get a taste Wong read work chosen by editors Anne Kennedy and Robert combines playfulness and virtuosity in equal measure. His first of writers you’re likely to hear more from. In October we Sullivan for the online anthology Best New Zealand Poems 06. book How to Talk won the 1994 New Zealand Book Award for conclude with two international guests, the distinguished The readings are chaired by Bill Manhire. Poetry, and his most recent, Sol, elicited the adjective ‘dazzling’ Australian biographer Brenda Niall and US poet, novelist 13 August: Another country - Dora Malech from the Listener’s poetry critic. Andrew lives in Paris, where he and non-fiction writer James Galvin. After teaching an extremely popular poetry workshop for the works for the International Herald Tribune, but this year he’s back Writers on Mondays is a stimulating way to start the working IIML in 2006, poet Dora Malech has returned to spend the year in Wellington to write a book about contemporary New week – and it’s free! in Wellington convening one of the MA (Page) workshops at the Zealand poetry. He reads from his work and shares his views Institute. Dora has a B.A. from Yale and an M.F.A. in Poetry from with Damien Wilkins. Please note: there are no Writers on Mondays the University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop, and has already events on 30 July, 6 August or 22 October. 10 September: The Next Page (1) received a number of fellowships. Her poems are wiry, densely A quartet of events featuring new work by writers from Victoria packed and sonically alive, and she reads them with great All Writers on Mondays events take place at City University’s MA in Creative Writing begins with readings of panache. Andrew Johnston quizzes her about her work and Gallery Wellington, Civic Square, 1pm. Admission free. fiction, poetry and memoir from Medb Charleton, Peter Kemp, about the US literary scene. Presented in partnership with City Gallery Wellington. Marrissa Johnpillai, Chloe Lane, Jane Gardner, Sarah Bainbridge, Brent Kininmont, Larree Lust, Joan Fleming and Ellie Catton, award-winning biographies including a five-generation study of introduced by Dora Malech. the Boyd dynasty of artists, and a life of the Sydney painter, Judy 17 September: The Next Page (2) Cassab. She has also written on children’s fiction and edited the Our season of emerging talent continues with another ten Oxford Book of Australian Letters. Her book reviews appear writers for the page: this week Vanessa Marshall, Mariana Isara, regularly in Australian journals and newspapers. This year she Lawrence Patchett, Sonia Johnson, Asha Scott-Morris, Saradha published Life Class, in which she retraces her literary footsteps Koirala, Mark Blaustein, Rachel Burt, Pip Adam and Lynn to discuss the pleasures and pitfalls of biographical discovery. She International Institute of Davidson read, introduced by Damien Wilkins. talks with Harry Ricketts. Modern Letters 24 September: Short/Sharp/Script (1) 29 October: Imaginary timber - James Galvin Te P¯ut ahi Tuhi Auaha o Te Ao Scriptwriting is in the spotlight this week as professional actors US writer James Galvin has published six books of poems, give rehearsed readings from plays by writers taking the MA including Resurrection Update: Collected Poems 1975-1997, and is (Script) workshop, chaired by Ken Duncum. Five scripts, one the recipient of many awards and honours. Though his work life lunch-hour, and always one of our fastest-moving and most is based at the Iowa Writers' Workshop, where he is a member unpredictable events! This session features work by Ellie Smith, of the permanent faculty, Galvin has long spent part of each year Simon Price, Kent Hainsworth, Sarah Boddy, and Catherine in Wyoming, the setting for his two prose volumes. The critically Bisley. acclaimed non-fiction The Meadow is an intimate work exploring 1 October: Short/Sharp/Script (2) the relationship between place and human life, and his novel This week five more scripts are given the once-over by the Fencing the Sky chronicles the disappearance of the American actors and director. The writers this week are Rachel Callinan, West. He discusses his work with broadcaster Lynn Freeman. Tim Worrall, Tusi Tamasese, Kate Morris, and Mark Gedye. 8 October: Comic timing - Dave Armstrong Writers on Mondays is presented in partnership Writers on with City Gallery Wellington. Books by writers Dave Armstrong has twice won the Best New New Zealand Play appearing in the series are available at Unity at the Chapman Tripp Theatre Awards, as well the Best Comedy Books, 57 Willis Street. Mondays Script award at the 2003 AFTA Television Awards. King and July – October 2007 Country has played to sold-out houses around New Zealand, and Niu Sila (co-written with Oscar Kightley), was performed at the 2007 Pasifika Styles Festival in England. Armstrong’s TV credits include Seven Periods with Mr Gormsby, Skitz, Shortland Street, Spin For more information contact the IIML or visit our website: Doctors, and Bro’town. He talks with Ken Duncum, and presents a preview of his work in progress as the 2007 Victoria University The International Institute of Modern Letters Victoria University Writer/Creative New Zealand Writer in Residence. P O Box 600 15 October: Life Class - Brenda Niall Wellington, New Zealand Phone (04) 463 6854 Brenda Niall is one of the very few writers to be awarded an AO Email [email protected] (Order of Australia) for ‘services to Australian literature, as Website www.vuw.ac.nz/modernletters http://www.vuw.ac.nz/modernletters academic, biographer and literary critic’. She is the author of four Cover drawing of the Janet Frame Desk by Gregory O’Brien Updated programme @ June 14 2007