What shapes a novel for older children? Jill Harris

Days Bay author of books for older children, Jill Harris, will begin the series with a discussion on what shapes a novel for older children. A former post-primary teacher and librarian, Jill writes poetry and non-traditional Christian liturgies, and has published two novels so far, Sil (2005) and Missing Toby (2007).

In search of wilderness, Les Molloy

Helping preserve what is left of New Zealand 's wilderness is what drives Point Howard writer Les Molloy. A one-time soil scientist and most latterly a UNESCO and World Conservation Union evaluator of the World Heritage qualifications of large areas of land in Russia and Asia , Les will discuss his magnum opus New Zealand's Wilderness Heritage

August 3

Precarious - writing about Eastbourne, Mary McCallum

Mary McCallum, author of The Blue , which has been shortlisted for the Montana Awards, to be announced next month, will share her writings about Eastbourne and read from her second novel in progress, Precarious , on August 3. Mary contributed the essay One Spring Day to the publication Eastbourne 100 Years.

The accidental author, A to Z Ann Packer

Lowry Bay writer Ann Packer, whose second book Stitch won a Montana Award last year, will discuss her varied freelance career and her current work, a biography of the late textile artist Malcolm Harrison, on August 10.

Chasing the Muse, Maggie Rainey-Smith

In the final lecture entitled Chasing the Muse , Days Bay writer Maggie Rainey-Smith will discuss her adventures living for two months last year in Kalamata in southern Greece . While visiting the Mani Peninsula , she met one of the world's finest travel writers Sir Patrick Leigh Fermor. Maggie has published two novels: About Turns (2005) and Turbulence (2007).