Thomas King's book The Truth About Stories provided the inspiration for this year's Going West Festival's books and writers weekend 15th-17th September at Titirangi Memorial Hall.

Writer Patricia Grace, will be picking up on Thomas King's ideas to deliver the keynote address. "It's a unique lyrical piece of non-fiction about the wonders and dangers of storytelling...www.goingwest.co.nzThomas King's book The Truth About Stories provided the inspiration for this year's Going West Festival's books and writers weekend 15th-17th September at Titirangi Memorial Hall.

Writer Patricia Grace, will be picking up on Thomas King's ideas to deliver the keynote address. "It's a unique lyrical piece of non-fiction about the wonders and dangers of storytelling...www.goingwest.co.nzThomas King is an indigenous North American so his viewpoint is illuminating and provocative," explains Festival director Murray Gray.

"Even though he won't be there in person, the title of his book seemed a good theme to base our literary weekend around. As he says we are nothing but stories."

Writer Patricia Grace, a special guest at the weekend, had also heard of King's book, from which extracts were broadcast on National Radio last year. She picks up on King's ideas to deliver the keynote address at the opening night Friday 15th September.

"All people of all ages need their own stories which define and describe them, telling them who they are, where they come from, where they belong and what their behaviours should be, " she says.

Other stories told at the opening night centre on the revival of taonga puoro, traditional Maori instruments. International presenter and performer Richard Nunns and carver Brian Flintoff come all the way from Nelson to talk with Rewi Spraggon about their 30 year journey with the late Hirini Melbourne to bring these instruments out of museum cases and into active use again. Brian has written a beautifully produced book on the instruments - Singing Treasures published by Craig Potton.

Richard is the guardian of an extraordinary array of these instruments, and as part of the evening he plays a selection of them accompanying the soulful voice of Waitakere City's Andrea Tunks.

Appropriately after a jam-packed two days of readings and discussion the weekend is brought to a close by the blues - the oldest story of them all. Blues singer and songwriter Hammond Gamble performs in the final hour of Sunday's programme.

This is the eleventh year of the Going West books and writers weekend - it's a warm and friendly affair with fine wine and food to complement the sociable atmosphere. You'll come away with stories ringing in your head, stories you'll be glad to have heard.

For details of all writers and performers appearing at the weekend visit www.goingwest.co.nz . Door sales available for single sessions and full day tickets.