Damien Wilkins has authored fourteen books. His latest, Delirious (2024), won the Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction. Aspiring (2020) won the Young Adult Fiction Award, and his debut The Miserables (1993) won the New Zealand Book Award for Fiction. He received a Whiting Writers’ Award from the Whiting Foundation, New York (1992) and an Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi Laureate Award (2013). He’s a creative writing professor at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington and Director of the International Institute of Modern Letters Te Pūtahi Tui Auaha o Te Ao. As a musician and songwriter, he performs as the Close Readers.
Damien Wilkins has authored fourteen books. His latest, Delirious (2024), won the Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction. Aspiring (2020) won the Young Adult Fiction Award, and his debut The Miserables (1993) won the New Zealand Book Award for Fiction. He received a Whiting Writers’ Award from the Whiting Foundation, New York (1992) and an Arts Foundation Te Tumu Toi Laureate Award (2013). He’s a creative writing professor at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington and Director of the International Institute of Modern Letters Te Pūtahi Tui Auaha o Te Ao. As a musician and songwriter, he performs as the Close Readers.
Q&A Session with 2026 Dublin Literary Award shortlisted author Brigitte Giraud, author of Live Fast, exploring the inspirations behind her novel.
VideoMay 12 2026
Laurent Binet – Perspective(s) Q&A
Check out our Q&A with Laurent Binet, author of shortlisted title Perspective(s), as he discusses the inspirations behind his work and reflects on the role libraries have played in shaping his journey
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Ali Smith – Gliff Q&A
Shortlisted author Ali Smith discusses the creative inspirations behind Gliff and reflects on the significance of libraries throughout her reading and writing life in our latest Q&A.
