Tickets are selling fast to Kapiti's first literary festival, Off the Page. Among the 24 local writers confirmed to appear are Bernard Beckett, Glenn Colquhoun (pictured), Julie Leibrich, Linda Niccol, Vicki Simpson and Briar Grace-Smith.

Running from 26-29 June, the festival will launch with an event hosted by Playmarket Director and Dominion Post art critic Mark Amery.Tickets are selling fast to Kapiti's first literary festival, Off the Page. Among the 24 local writers confirmed to appear are Bernard Beckett, Glenn Colquhoun (pictured), Julie Leibrich, Linda Niccol, Vicki Simpson and Briar Grace-Smith.

Running from 26-29 June, the festival will launch with an event hosted by Playmarket Director and Dominion Post art critic Mark Amery."The launch will give performance-based writers a chance to get in front of totally new audiences," says organiser Linda Niccol. "We hope the festival will be as stimulating to the writers as it will be to the readers."

The four main festival sessions include poetry, writing for children, fiction and non-fiction.

Organisers are hoping that the festival will become a biennial event, with writing workshops and the inclusion of film and playwriting.

"Visitors to the Nature Coast can enjoy great food and accommodation and will also have opportunities to check out our local galleries, bush walks and beaches," says organiser Hilary Wooding.

Programmes and booking forms available at libraries, PaperPlus, Unity Books and Moby Dickens.

When: 26-29 July 2007
Where: Sessions will be held at Paraparumu, Otaki and Waikanae Libraries and Mahara Gallery.
Tickets: $10 per adult session, $45 to all events plus launch