Author Expo on

Warkworth’s literary community will take centre stage later this month when the town hosts its first-ever Author Expo and Pop-Up Bookstore.

The event, organised by Warkworth-based self-publishing facilitator Write-On Publishing in partnership with the Warkworth War Memorial Library, will be held at the Masonic Hall on Saturday May 23, from 10am to 2pm.

The free community event will provide local and regional authors with an opportunity to showcase and sell their books while connecting directly with readers. Organisers say the expo is designed to create a long-overdue platform for local writers.

Write-On Publishing founder Frank Nunan said the idea emerged from a conversation with a member of the Warkworth Writing Group before Christmas.

“She commented on the lack of a platform for local authors to showcase their work and thought there should be a Warkworth Book Fair,” Nunan said.

Drawing on his experience with book fairs in South Africa and previous author events, Nunan refined the concept into an “Author Expo” and presented it to librarian Katie Mitchell, who enthusiastically supported the initiative.

Participating authors will each have their own display space to interact with the public and sell books. A PayWave facility will also be available for authors who do not have electronic payment systems.

Among the writers already confirmed are Bob Deans with The Great New Zealand Sausage Trail, Barry Luckman with his children’s book Inky and Paul Evans, whose book Rats in the Attic explores anxiety and depression. Other featured authors include Glen Green, Linda Shepherd, Jenny Gini and Frank Nunan himself.

Following the expo, authors and aspiring writers can attend a presentation titled Let Them See the Rabbit!, focusing on sales and marketing strategies.

Organisers hope the expo will become a regular event on Warkworth’s calendar.