Any moment now WOW will be arriving at a South Island town near you! Starting on the 17th of February William Brandt, Barbara Else, Brigid Lowry, Harry Ricketts, Paul Thomas and Caren Wilton will appear at a series of local venues to read from and talk about their work. Any moment now WOW will be arriving at a South Island town near you! Starting on the 17th of February William Brandt, Barbara Else, Brigid Lowry, Harry Ricketts, Paul Thomas and Caren Wilton will appear at a series of local venues to read from and talk about their work.This year's WOW Tour brings a bevy of award-winning writers to a Dunedin, Balclutha, Gore, Invercargill, Te Anau, Queenstown, Alexandra, Palmerston, Oamaru, Timaru!

This year's writers have written poems, novels, short stories, essays and a biography. Together they will read from their work, talk, answer questions and generally offer their audiences a really good time.

Each year WOW sets off to a different region with the aim of ensuring that rural New Zealanders have an opportunity to take part in the vibrant literary life of the nation. At the same time WOW offers writers a chance to enjoy the company of their readers. WOW works because we, as New Zealanders, are a book-hungry bunch, and we like a tour that, in the words of Damien Wilkins, 'WOW educates, edifies, and entertains!'

WOW 2004 EVENTS Itinerary
Tuesday 17 February

4 - 5 pm Drinks & nibbles followed by a reading to English teachers & school librarians (Library, Floor 1). Writer can invite one guest to this event.
6 pm Library Staff will take writers for dinner
8.00 - 9.30pm Public reading at the library

Dunedin Public Libraries
Contact Ailsa Koning
230 Moray Place
Dunedin
Phone 03-474-3617
Fax 03-474-3660
Email akoning@dcc.govt.nz
Bookseller: University Bookshop

Wednesday 18 February
5-6pm Tour of John Money Wing a the Eastern Southland Art Gallery with limited public
6pm-8pm Dinner organised by Philip Casey
8pm- 9pm event - discussion followed by supper at Gore Public Library open to all

Gore Public Library
Contact Philip Casey
Norfolk Street
Phone 03-208-8899
Fax 03-208-1210
Overnight in Gore

Thursday 19 Feb
7.30-9.30pm Event followed by supper
Invercargill City Libraries
Contact Helen Pannett
50 Dee Street
Invercargill
Ph 03 218 7025
Email cat2@southnet.co.nz
Bookseller: Whitcoulls

Friday 20 February
Drive from Invercargill to Winton (leave at 8.30am, drive time 30mins)

9.00am - 10.30am Morning tea at Winton Library

Winton Library
Contact Sharon Long or Linda
1 Wemyss St
Winton
Phone 03-236-0476
Fax 03-236-7198
Bookseller: Paper Plus

7.00 pm evening event at Te Anau Library with supper

Te Anau Library
Contact Roger Riddell
Town Centre
Te Anau
Phone 03-249-7379

Saturday 21 February
11.30 am event for an hour
Queenstown Library
Contact Sue Kelly
10 George Road
Queenstown
Phone 03-441-0600
Fax 03-442-7014
Email suek@qldc.govt.nz
Bookseller: tba

3.30 pm Event
Peregrine Wines
Contact: Jo
Peregrine Wines Central Otago Limited
Kawarau Gorge Road, RD 1
Gibbstown
Phone: 03 442-4000 or 0800 PEREGRINE
Fax: 03 442 4038
e-mail: info@peregrinewines.co.nz

Sunday 22 February
Time: tba
evening event Alexandra Library
Alexandra Public Library
Contact Janine Gillions (away until 26 Jan)
43 Tarbert Street
Alexandra
Phone 03-448-9412
Fax 03-448-9412
Email Janine.Gillions@codc.govt.nz

Monday 23 February
1pm lunch at Palmerston Library
2pm event
Palmerston Library
Contact: Barbara Taylor
Waihemo Centre
Tiverton Street
Palmerston, Otago
Ph: 03 465 1106
Fax: 03 465 1111
6pm-7.30pm event at Oamaru Library including light refreshments

Oamaru Library
Contact: Jean Rivett
62-64 Thames Street
Oamaru
Ph 03 434 1650
Fax: 03 434 1649
Jrivett@waitaki-dc.govt.nz

Tuesday 24 February
1pm Timaru Finale
Timaru District Library
Contact Nigel Brown (contact Lynda Hughes if he's not there)
PO Box 228
Timaru
Phone 03-684-2202
Fax 03-684-2211
Email nigelb@timaru.govt.nz