Friday was so wild in Wellington I thought the wind would scoop me up and toss me back home. Whoosh!  But I had a delicious lunch with some librarians and a terrific meeting with the archivists at the Alexander Turnbull Library. I am in love with the archives.

Ready for a bright blue Saturday and a book launch poetry reading (after a heavenly time at ATL!).

Thistle Hall is the perfect venue with late afternoon sun streaming through the windows. 14 poets read two city poems each with an eclectic mix of connections. Cities became suburbs and little villages.

There was a warmth in the room that was contagious. A good turnout. Poets I had never met came even though they weren’t reading! How lovely to meet Rachel McAlpine for the first time. In fact I knew very few people in the room – all these strangers with poetry connections.

It was a special way to launch a book. To get a taste of poets I have mostly known and loved on the page. Thank you!

Thank you Luke from Vic books. I am looking forward to our Poetry Day event!

And thank you Helen Rickerby for producing my gorgeous new book. And it was so good to hear you read my Rome poem from The Baker’s Thumbprint as I have never read it aloud. Very happy!