A host of home grown and imported gay and lesbian talent is appearing at the Auckland Writers and Readers Festival. Amongst the internationals are the latest Man Booker Prize winner — Britain's Alan Hollinghurst (Line of Beauty), and the American memoirist and funny man Augusten Burroughs (Running with Scissors). Lesbian readers won't want to miss appearances by Tokoroa export Stella Duffy who will also feature this Friday in an exclusive interview here at GayNZ.com. The line-up of locals includes Douglas Wright (Ghost Dance), Douglas Lloyd Jenkins (At Home), Peter Wells (creative co-director of the festival and writer of such books as the award-winning Long Loop Home), Sue Fitchett (Palaver Lava Queen), Witi Ihimaera (The Uncle's Story), Annamarie Jagose (Deutz Medal Winner for Slow Water) and William Taylor (whose many novels for young people include his gay-themed The Blue Lawn). See the Writers and Readers Festival website link below for events and appearance schedules and information on the whole festival. GayNZ.com - 18th May 2005