Literary sensation to address Wintec Press Club
A writer described as a “literary sensation” features as guest speaker at the next Wintec Press Club free lunch extravaganza in Hamilton held on Friday, August 19.
Wellington writer Hera Lindsay Bird, 29, is widely regarded as the most exciting new talent in New Zealand literature – and is riding a wave of popularity. Her publishers Victoria University Press had to order a reprint of her debut book even before it went on sale.
“The crazy thing,” said Press Club life president Steve Braunias, “is that she’s a poet. It may seem strange and startling that someone who writes poetry will address the Press Club, but journalism is all about writing, and no one is writing better in New Zealand right now than Hera.
“We tend to think of poetry as boring and impossible to understand. This is because much of it is boring and incomprehensible. Hera’s poetry, though, is direct, thrilling, and also actually really funny. The sexual content may offend but is just as likely to entertain.
“I’m thrilled that she has accepted the invitation to speak at the Press Club. Our previous speaker, Dave Dobbyn, gave us a glimpse into the mind of a genius. Hera will do the same.”
Her debut collection of poems is self-titled. It went straight to number one on the best-seller charts at the Unity Books stores in Wellington and Auckland, following the publication of a particularly intimate poem at The Spinoff online site. It attracted over 30,000 views - including Lorde, who expressed how dazzled she was on her Twitter account. The message featured 13 exclamation marks.
Hera Lindsay Bird said, “I'm interested in all the things you're not allowed to say in poems. I want to talk about breaking the rules. I want to talk about NZ's obsession with talking about yourself as little as humanly possible, and how boring I find that.
“I'm interested in sentimentality and oversharing. I collect bad children's poetry about Star Trek. I hereby promise that my speech won’t be dry or earnest. Especially not the bit about sentimentality and oversharing."
Previous speakers at the most famous public event in New Zealand journalism have included Heather du Plessis-Allan, the late Sir Paul Holmes, Winston Peters, actress Robyn Malcolm, and John Campbell.
The Wintec Press Club is staged on behalf of journalism students at Wintec’s School of Media Arts. An invite-only audience of about 100 regularly includes the biggest names in New Zealand journalism as well as politicians, entrepreneurs, entertainers,, and TV presenters.
The 12-2pm lunch is invite only, and will be held at the Ferrybank restaurant and convention centre in Grantham St, on the banks of the Waikato River in downtown Hamilton.
Venetia Sherson, former editor of the Waikato Times, founded the Wintec Press Club in 2004.
Hera Lindsay Bird will speak – and recite some of her verse - for about 30 minutes at the luncheon, followed by a Q + A session. Her book is available for sale, and she will sign copies.
“Hera’s a literary sensation,” added Steve Braunias.
