Wearing my cranky pants today...

I was a bit bummed to see articles in recent weekend papers commenting on the (gasp, shock, horror probe) six million dollar price tag for sending authors and a coterie of associated folk to the Frankfurt Book Fair this year. In case you didn't already know (if you've been hiding in a closet or under a rock or like, ya know, just not reading my blog) New Zealand is country of honour this year in Frankfurt. It's a big deal. Its a very big deal for authors in New Zealand. We got very excited. If you have been reading my blog you will also know I have had a few issues with certain aspects of New Zealand's Frankfurt programme. Like why aren't more children's authors and illustrators included. And why are so many other non-booky interests getting involved. But lets face it, even those who disagree with me over these issues should understand it is part of my job to try getting as many opportunities as possible for my work to reach a wider audience. Wouldn't you think less of me if I didn't try at all? I would.

Anyways, I digress. Whatever I have thought of the programme, I wish it well. Any greater interest in New Zealand writing in general has the chance of having positive spin-offs for me and my fellow writers. They are a great bunch. I like them very much. And there are lots of tremendous people in New Zealand writing deserving of greater things and if greater things happen for them I will be stoked (and more then a smidge jealous - I am human after all).

But I do not like that folk might be suggesting writers in New Zealand should not be helped to export their product. I feel sad that the public might be encouraged to be outraged at this expense. It reminds me of the cutting of the Queensland Literary Awards earlier this year when members of the public were incensed by the bludging authors in their midst sucking the public coffers dry. I don't know any bludging authors. We are not plundering the public coffers. None of us are rich. All the ones I know work very hard to create the best writing that will inspire, motivate, inform, educate, entertain and feed readers. They feel passionate about words and their potential. The big thing that makes us human is our ability to communicate in complex ways. Books foster our ability with words. Our culture should celebrate this. Recent articles have also lamented dropping standards in literacy in schools. Perhaps if our culture saw its literature as more valuable then our standards would improve. I can't imagine its only 6 million dollars that was spent on last years Rugby World Cup or New Zealand's attendance at this years Olympic Games. I think its important to encourage and celebrate this kind of excellence. I also think we shouldn't be limited to just encouraging sports people financially. Maybe runners sell more gatorade or rugby players more life insurance but writers feed more  minds. Holy moley, public money supported that televisual crime that was the GC. I know our economic situation is grim and people are doing it hard. I thank my lucky stars every day that my SO can cover our bills because I earn diddly even though I have what some might consider a pretty successful writing career. But I also think if we sent a better message about the value of our literary culture in New Zealand then it wouldn't seem so embarrassing and cringe-worthy for children to be picking up a book instead of playing Call of Duty or watching Snooki give everyone an unwelcome eyeful on Jersey Shore. And whatever you might think about literature, reading books does improve a child's chance of future success. So please don't say NZ writers don't deserve this kind of international development. It sends the wrong message.

Kind of shocked...

A brief intermission during my absence so I can express my sadness at yesterday's announcement about New Zealand's contingent to go to the 2012 Frankfurt Book Fair. This is the world's biggest book fair and we are sending 60 authors and 100 performers. Our once in a lifetime opportunity as authors here in this country and we are outnumbered by performers and representatives of other interests (only 35% authors in total, and only 3% of those going write for children, not quite 2% if you look at those with writing for children as their main writing/occupation). Shouldn't this be all about books and our literary culture? Why then the business and cultural and tourism emphases?  Even the Germans seem a little surprised. As the article says - at a book fair include the books. The authors do seem to have been marginalised. The authors who are going were partly selected on the basis that a German publisher has already picked up one or more of their titles.Won't those titles already selected by the Germans already be benefiting from their investment? To maximise the benefit of this opportunity wouldn't it be a good idea to take books that weren't already getting any European exposure? It is incredibly hard to get material seen overseas for reasons that have nothing to do with the quality of writing. Here was an opportunity, a never-to-be-repeated-while-I-am-alive chance, for people like me - to be seen and heard and read. And it really didn't have to be me. I can think of writers of quality and originality who I was sure would be selected, but who weren't. And if we can't afford to send the writers, could we at least send more books?  Writing is not an easy way to make a living here. We are a small country. Imagine what impact it might have had to have the chance to show off a book in Germany at the world's biggest Book Fair. It might have been easier if NZ had not had this opportunity. I guess I thought it would be different.


As Richard Flanagan said in his article on book prizes in Australia in the Brisbane Times on June 16, "Writing rarely brings writers money or even respect. If it offers a certain freedom, it is one edged for most with loneliness, poverty and despair." I don't think things are that different in New Zealand. We don't feel celebrated at the best of times, and this wonderful event sadly, somehow, seems to be no exception.


UPDATE
I am confused. Today I read this about NZ at Frankfurt. Guest Country of Honour status offers the most comprehensive opportunity we have seen in many decades to strengthen New Zealand/German ties in culture, business, tourism, diplomacy and education. If this is indeed the intention behind naming NZ as Country of Honour at this years fair then I think NZ has pulled together a remarkable display. But Germany seems to be wondering why we are focusing on business, culture and tourism instead of books. Has something been lost in translation? Is Guest Country of Honour Status about a country's Literature or is it something else entirely? Whatever happens I hope there is some long term excitement generated for books by NZ authors.