Anna talks to Rachel about Greece, love at first sight and the uselessness of poets, as well as writing fiction and the wonders and oddities of translation.

Hayden Glass, co-proprietor of The Open Book talks to Anna about poetry and strategy, poetry and music and breastfeeding while posting.

Anna and David talk about poetry business models, the great unravelling, the role of the fool, love, regret and chickens.

A gala reading at the shop, featuring Alex Taylor, Makyla Curtis, Megan France, Kim Tairi, Cybonn Ang, Craig Foltz, Rachel O’Connor, Gina Cole, Tom Romeo, Sophie van Waardenberg, Paula Morris, Lisa Samuels and Josie Shapiro.

Anna and Ian talk about big ideas, boyhood in East Bengal, being a twin and the joy of form.

Anna and Bill talk about writing, sanity, love and music, with extra lip-smacking. Bill Direen is performing with an eight-piece improvisation orchestra in Dunedin and Oamaru this coming Armistice Weekend. He will sing songs in English, many of them translated from the languages of our allies or enemies in the First World War. The songs will alternate with ensemble improvisations on war, peace, political violence and political progress. The evening begins with a song cycle co-written by Bill (Direen) and NZ poet Alan Brunton based on the life of Michael Joseph Savage. Those dates are: two nights in The New Athenaeum Theatre, the Octagon, Dunedin, Friday November 9th and Saturday November 10th at 8:30pm, and one show on Armistice Day itself, Sunday November 11th, at 4pm in the Grainstore, Harbour Street, Oamaru.  https://www.facebook.com/events/2179503808985793/ https://www.facebook.com/events/919754151544297/

Anna and Sophie Van Waardenberg read and talk about the poems that were finalists in the Geometry | Open Book National Poetry Competition. Pyjamas, punching and Casablanca also feature. Ears Wide Open will have a another release this Thursday 2 November and we will then resume our two-weekly on a Thursday schedule.

Anna and Paula talk about Laura Ingalls Wilder, dying parents and weaving.

Anna and Paula discuss fiction and non-fiction, the bright-line test and what one starts with when one sits down to write (part 1 of 2).

Anna and Piet trees, policy and mysticism and a wee bit of poetry as well.