The Auckland Readers and Writers Festival celebrates its tenth anniversary this year, and from 12 to 16 May offers up a cornucopia of events to tickle the fancy of the literary minded.

On 12 May you can sip tea and nibble delicious dainties whilst listening to Lauraine Jacobs, Tui Flower, Julie Biuso and Julie Le Clerc – four of the many food writers and chefs who contributed to A Treasury of New Zealand Baking.

Also on 12 May, Emily Perkins, Finlay Macdonald, Gordon McLauchlan, Steve Braunias, Bill Hastings and Jennifer Ward-Lealand will argue the moot: “Off the Shelf and Into the Hard-drive: the Book is Dead” at St-Matthew-In-The-City, with Te Radar as moderator.

14 Year Old Daughter’s favourite band Ivy Lies will be talking about songwriting on 13 May as part of the 2010 Schools Programme. If 14 Year Old Daughter can’t talk her teachers into taking the class along I may just have to take her myself, or risk her imploding with disappointment!

If your brain needs some shaping up tutor Kathryn Burnett will lead participants through a series of exercises designed to stimulate imagination and give your right brain a workout in Brainstorm: Creativity Workshop on 15 May.

This is just a sampling of the events on offer, a full programme and ticketing information is available on the Readers and Writers Festival website.