We are asking quick questions of writers and thinkers coming to the WORD Christchurch Writers and Readers Festival on from 24 to 28 August.
Tania Roxborogh is the author of novels for teenagers and children, plays for the classroom, Shakespearean texts, English grammar books, and adult non-fiction.
What are you looking forward to doing in Christchurch?
I just love the weather - the sunny, sunny days. We moved from Dunedin at the beginning of the year and it has felt like the sun has shone most days. I was born in Ōtautahi but spent my childhood in the North Island. I returned to North Canterbury as a teen and worked in the city for a few years before heading north again for uni. Those Southern Alps welcome me and I never get sick of seeing them: they're like a group of kaumātua huddled to the west keeping an eye on us all.
What do you think about libraries?
They are my favourite places: to study, to research, to ask librarians stuff (they are better than Google and with cooler clothes), to read, to write. When I was at intermediate, I made a goal for myself to read every fiction book in the library, starting from the As, before my two years were up. I succeeded and I discovered some amazing authors. I feel like librarians have this super power of being able to look into the hearts of we writers - they know our books therefore they know us!
What would be your "desert island book"?
Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. I've read it already and seen the musical three times and we have the music on tape. I've also see the film so I think I'd be in a treat of reliving a whole heap of wonderfulness as I re-read and wallow in the epic storytelling.
Share a surprising fact about yourself.
I have my motorbike license. I used to scuba dive; I once traveled from Waipara to Whangarei by train, ferry, train and bus with my cat. People often describe me as fearless and driven but my happiest place is at home, still in my PJs reading a book or watching a great TV series, drinking coffee and eating chocolate.
Tania Roxborogh appears in Making it Overseas, Sun 28 Aug, 3pm
More
- Find works by Tania Roxborogh in our collection
- Our page on WORD Christchurch Writers and Readers Festival 2016
- More WORD Christchurch Quick Questions
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