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Eight well-known NZ authors will share their stories at a fundraising event for Hibiscus Hospice on Sunday, October 29.
The afternoon will include book readings, door prizes, a book sale and signings. Among the authors attending will be Professor Rod MacLeod who will be speaking about the value of poetry to articulate feelings around death, dying and bereavement.
Prof. MacLeod is the palliative care medical specialist at Hibiscus Hospice, as well as conjoint professor in palliative care medicine at the University of Sydney. He is also the author of the palliative care handbook, a much-used resource for doctors at the coal face of general practice.
“I will briefly outline the value of poetry in helping students learn about loss and grief,” he says. “I’ve chosen this because I have been close to people who are dying in my work for almost 30 years.” His latest book, The Unknown Sea is his second anthology – each took almost 10 years to complete.
Prof. MacLeod says he enjoys novels about the human condition but also more light-hearted work by authors such as Alexander McCall-Smith.
“Books are to be held in the hand, smelled, and treasured long after they are read. Our home has over 100 metres of bookshelves and we’ve run out of space.”
Prof. MacLeod’s says after his first anthology, he asked hospice patients and families to send him poetry illustrating how they felt. “Some of those can be found in the second book.”
Other authors at the event will be Karen Hay, Ann Glamuzina, Gordon McLauchlan, Michael Corballis, Justin Brown, Jessica Pawley and Louise Groarke.
Meet the Authors is at Whangaparaoa College auditorium, 2pm-5pm.
*Unfortunately due to lack of numbers this event has been cancelled.
Book giveaway
Hibiscus Matters has two copies of Professor MacLeod’s book The Unknown Sea to give away. To go in the draw, message us on Facebook, or write your name, address and daytime phone number on the back of an envelope and post to Double-edged Sword, Hibiscus Matters, Unit G, Tamariki Plaza, Tamariki Ave, Orewa 0931. Entries close November 3.
