Innovative Hamilton Book Month programme is revealed

Hamilton Book Month co-director Catherine Wallace says, 'We’re passionate about providing a range of free and low-cost events that are accessible to those in the Waikato. The festival provides opportunities to meet world class authors talking about their books, to develop attendees’ writing skills in a range of genres at our workshops and to enjoy film, quiz and gala evening events.'

This year’s programme has a strong mix of events spanning romance, memoir, illustrated nonfiction, book marketing, speculative fiction, health journeys, poetry, commercial and literary fiction, chronic illness narratives, storytelling techniques across multiple platforms, a pub quiz and book battle, blokes’ book club and an antique books roadshow.

The month kicks off with a workshop on How to Rock Your Book Marketing in 2026 with Steffanie Holmes, the USA Today best-selling author of over 55 kooky, spooky paranormal, cozy fantasy, and gothic romances that have sold over a million copies. She’ll deliver a practical hands-on session for both indie and traditionally published career authors.

Another workshop which is generating lots of interest is Romance Writing 101. This promises to be a fun morning learning from author Catherine Robertson’s journey which will arm participants with a solid list of to-do’s and an even longer list of to-don’ts as they embark on writing books in this profitable book genre.

The Agile Storyteller is an exciting exploration of the skills required to adapt storytelling techniques across platforms delivered by award-winning journalist and former foreign correspondent Charlotte Glennie.

Josie Shapiro presents a workshop on how to unlock your prose to build better narrative flow on 15 August, and Siobhan Harvey explores poetry’s power to address life’s issues at the final workshop on 29 August.

Karina McHardy, Suzanne Miller and Julie Legg are on a Health Journeys panel at Rototuna Library talking about their experiences with autism, ADHD and OCD on 6 August.

Overseas author, award-winning journalist and former foreign correspondent Charlotte Glennie joins Mike McRoberts in conversation about their memoirs. At Hamilton’s Central Library on 21 August.

Best-selling, prize-winning authors Nalini Singh and Catherine Robertson will discuss writing their latest titles blending romance, murder mystery and suspense thrillers.  Both authors attracted large audiences last time they were on the programme and interest is again expected to be high.

Another free panel mid-month features Rachel Paris, Megan Nicol Reed and Josie Shapiro with chair Tina Shaw leading them in conversation about the power of fiction and their storytelling. Together, they explore the power of fiction and share how they bring their stories to life in an engaging discussion shaped by different writing styles, creative processes, and perspectives across some rich and complex themes.

Rachel Clare and Tryphena Cracknell celebrate our native flowering plants with their stunning book Aotearoa in Bloom in an illustrated talk held at Hamilton Gardens in partnership with the Garden History Research Foundation.

Te Pae Tawhiti Awards (Distant Horizons) and Hamilton Book Month are pleased to be collaborating, with New Zealand’s newest literary award for speculative fiction to hold its inaugural prize-giving event on 22 August as part of the vibrant month-long festival of literary events. In addition to the award presentations, the evening will comprise a keynote address and panel event following speculative fiction workshops for youth and adults earlier in the day.

Browsers Bookshop owner Rachel Pope will talk about what makes books valuable and collectible at an Antique Books Roadshow. People are welcome to bring any books that they think may be rare for her to assess while they enjoy refreshments in store.

A conversation between award-winning author Dr David Coventry and one of New Zealand’s foremost practitioners of the short story and poem, Dr Tracey Slaughter,  will take place on 16 August. They will discuss Coventry’s acclaimed hybrid-novel Performance, and talk about challenges faced and victories won when composing chronic illness narratives for the page.

Other events during the month include a Hamilton premiere screening of Joy, Full and Fearless about Dame Joy Cowley, a literary pub quiz at The Londoner with quizmasters Cate Prestidge and Gail Pittaway, a Storytime event for preschoolers and a Blokes’ Book Club.

Details of this year’s eighteen events covering a range of genres and formats can be found on their website www.hamiltonbookmonth.com