Recommended reading

August is always a busy month, filled with everything but writing. I have a couple of annual teaching commitments and no less than three festivals and two award ceremonies, all absorbing a day's travel to and from as well as the events themselves.

In the lead-up to the days away I often find myself resenting the intrusion - until I'm standing in front of a group of students. Then I remember how much I love teaching.

This year's Wairarapa Schools' contingent was very impressive, and their finished stories are starting to trickle into my inbox.

Speaking of which, stories aren't the only thing to be arriving. Yesterday I received this recommendation from Amazon... !