Writers and readers rejoice – WORD Christchurch has announced a stunning autumn season of sensational speakers bringing their brilliance to the city from May 8 - 25.

Nine events, featuring eight writers seconded from the Auckland and Dunedin Writers Festivals will have the city humming. We’ve got a fearless feminist, a Hip-Hop artist and writer, a flamboyant poet, three popular novelists, a world-renowned podcaster and a legendary New Zealand musician.

Tickets are on sale now and they won’t hang about, so get thee to a keyboard ASAP and grab your seat today.

wordchristchurch.co.nz

May 8 
Clementine Ford: Boys Will be Boys - Fearless feminist Clementine Ford returns to Christchurch with Boys Will Be Boys, the follow-up to her incendiary debut Fight Like A Girl.

May 12 
Akala: Hip-Hop & Shakespeare - BAFTA award-winning Hip-Hop artist Akala, co-founder of The Hip-Hop Shakespeare Company, explores the social, cultural and linguistic parallels between the works of William Shakespeare and contemporary Hip-Hop.

Luke Wright - An hour of the very best stuff from Luke Wright, one of England’s most celebrated spoken word poets: flamboyant, political and riotously funny.

Akala: Natives - Hip-Hop artist and writer Akala discusses his bestselling debut, Natives, a searing modern polemic on race and class in the British Empire.

May 13 
John Boyne: In Conversation - John Boyne, the acclaimed author of The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas and The Heart’s Invisible Furies, appears in conversation about his ‘deliciously dark’ new book, A Ladder to the Sky, and young adult novel My Brother’s Name is Jessica.

Markus Zusak: Bridge of Clay - Markus Zusak, author of the beloved The Book Thief, makes his long-awaited return with the profoundly heartfelt and inventive novel about family, Bridge of Clay.

May 22 
The Allusionist - British podcaster Helen Zaltzman (aka The Allusionist) takes to the stage to explore language with infectious verve and a generous helping of pop culture.

May 24 
Graeme Simsion: The Rosie Trilogy - The author of The Rosie Project, Graeme Simsion, is back with The Rosie Result, the triumphant final instalment of the much-loved and internationally bestselling trilogy.

May 25 
Shayne Carter: Dead People I Have Known - Legendary New Zealand musician Shayne Carter (Straitjacket Fits, Dimmer) in conversation about Dead People I Have Known, his engaging, funny, and often lyrical new memoir.

Events will be held at various venues around town.