A fun event where six talented writers take to HamLit’s garden stage to share an entertaining personal tale about someone (or something) they get a kick out of. Their story could be strangely inspirational, quietly thrilling or warmly funny but whatever it is, it’s bound to be highly unpredictable.

Don’t miss! Featuring Andrew Fagan (Swirly World: Lost at Sea), Chye-Ling Huang (Camp Be Better) , Isla Huia (Talia), Jacob Rajan (Indian Ink Theatre Company), and Marama Salsano (To Feel the Earth as One's Skin: An Anthology of Indigenous Visual Poetry).

*Please note Ngāhuia te Awekotuku will no longer be taking this part in this event.

Jacob Rajan
Jacob Rajan MNZM co-founded the Indian Ink Theatre Company and has created twelve acclaimed plays, and has been New Zealand Arts Foundation Laureate since 2002. In 2013 he was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his contributions to theatre.

Marama Salsano
Marama Salsano (Ngāi Tūhoe, Te Aitanga-a-Māhaki, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Wairere) has an MA in Creative Writing and Tikanga Māori / Māori Cultural Studies has been published in numerous journals and anthologies including To Feel the Earth on One’s Skin.

Andrew Fagan
Andrew Fagan is a singer, songwriter and long-distance sailor who rose to fame as the lead singer of The Mockers. Born in Wellington, Fagan has written three books about his daring maritime exploits including his third memoir Swirly World Lost at Sea published in 2024.

Chye-Ling Huang
Chye-Ling Huang is a director and co-founder/AD of Proudly Asian Theatre. Writer of award-winning plays Call of the Sparrows and Orientation, Chye-Ling co-hosted the podcast The Elephant in the Bedroom and co-wrote and co-directed TVNZ comedy series Camp Be Better.

Isla Huia
Isla Huia (Te Āti Haunui a-Pāpārangi, Uenuku) has been published in Catalyst, Takahē, Pūhia and Awa Wāhine. Her debut poetry collection, Talia, was shortlisted for the Mary and Peter Biggs Award for Poetry at the Ockham NZ Book Awards 2024.

Sweets to the Sweet is part of HamLit 2025 – a captivating literary weekend where authors from around the motu come together with local talent to cultivate sparkling conversations and air fresh ideas in the beautiful environs of the Hamilton Gardens.