Kāpiti writer Mandy Hager has been announced as one of the feature speakers at the New Zealand Festival (formerly the International Arts Festival).
Ms Hager is an award-winning writer for young readers and adults. Her 2017 novel Heloise, about the doomed 12th-century lovers Heloise and Abelard, was called a tremendous achievement in Metro.
In 2018 she will publish Ash Arising, the sequel to The Nature of Ash, her 2013 futuristic political thriller for young adults.
Ms Hager is among a number of internationally acclaimed writers who will be part of the Festival in the very popular Writers and Readers section.
Organisers say the Festival Writers and Readers will be a chance to discover events, guests and themes to satisfy the straightest and strangest literary appetites.
At present they are busy creating keynote sessions, panel discussions, debates and workshops and will be revealing the full programme of events on 1 February.
The New Zealand Festival runs 23 February to 18 March 2018.
