Author Interview: Brian Falkner

Brian Falkner was born and raised in Auckland. He is the award-winning, best-selling author of several novels for children and young adults, including, The Flea Thing, The Real Thing, and The Super Freak. His action adventure sci-fi novels, The Tomorrow Code and Brainjack were both short-listed for the New Zealand Post Book Awards for Children & Young Adults and the Esther Glen Award at the LIANZA Awards, with Brainjack winning the New Zealand Post Book Awards, Children's Choice Award (Young Adult Fiction category). Brainjack also won the 2010 Sir Julius Vogel Award, Best Young Adult Novel. Both these novels have also been published in the USA and Germany.

He spoke to Rachel about writing, naming his characters and more.

Interview: Richard Gill

Richard Gill is one of Australia's best-known - and best-loved - musical figures. His career has taken him from teaching music in Sydney's western suburbs to the role of Music Director of the Victorian Opera, and he's been involved with almost every major opera company and orchestra in Australia.  

Richard will be speaking at Shearer's on Wednesday October 31st at 7pm about his love of music and his life's work: from school days to the heights (and lows) of conducting and directing an opera company.  

We asked Richard some questions about his life in music and writing his memoir, Give Me Excess of It.

What was your favourite music as a child?  
My favourite music as a child was the Gregorian Chant and the music of the Mass.   

What did you enjoy most about teaching music - and do you miss it?  
The most enjoyable aspect of teaching music is watching how students uncover musical facts for themselves. I don't miss it as I still teach privately.   

What are the most difficult and the most enjoyable things about conducting?  
Everything about conducting is difficult. Getting to grips with the music properly, for example. The most enjoyable things are when everything is going swimmingly...rarely.   

What's the most important aspect of music to you?  
Its abstractness and its capacity to evoke, suggest and imply.   

What did you enjoy most about writing your memoir?  
When I'd finished. It was actually very cathartic and often very painful. 

Join us for an evening with Richard Gill on Wednesday October 31st at 7pm. Refreshments provided.  Tickets: $10, or $8 for frequent shoppers. Includes $5 off Give Me Excess of It.  Bookings are essential for this event. Purchase your tickets by calling Shearer's on (02) 9572 7766.

Interview: Gerard Whateley

Gerard Whateley, ABC sports journalist of the year, came to Shearer's to speak to Barbara about his new book 'Black Caviar'

Interview: Nick Earls

Nick Earls came to Shearer's to speak to Megan about his new book 'Word Hunters'

Video Interview: Richard Ford

We were thrilled to have Pulitzer Prize winning author Richard Ford take some time out from his busy Australian tour and come into Shearer's last week to sign some books and have a coffee (black) with us. He spoke to Antonia about his new book Canada, keeping the first draft of the novel in the freezer, his preoccupation with consequences and his writing routine.

In Canada, Richard Ford has created a masterpiece. A visionary novel of vast landscapes, complex identities and fragile humanity. It questions the fine line between the normal and the extraordinary, and the moments that haunt our settled view of the world.