It might more commonly be called the City of Sails, but to sociologist and historian Scott Hamilton Auckland is "a city of text", with multiple stories waiting to be told.

Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama appear to have much in common on the surface, but a new book on the two First Ladies reveals bitter animosity between them, Celia Walden writes.

Phil Lynott's name is a byword for rock 'n' roll excess. Now a new book explores why the shy church-goer found it so hard to resist temptation, writes Neil Armstrong.

One New Zealand fiction writer will wake up $50,000 better off on Wednesday thanks to a new literary prize.

COMMENT: We thought we knew who Americans were, but this year we have seen a new side to their character that has set me wondering about its origins.

Lisa Hilton's new novel is tipped to be the next big thriller, writes Stephen Jewell.

Strangely, here we have one autobiography of two people.

Graham Swift's consummate novella fills a day, 90-plus years ago post-World War I, when the servant class are free to visit their families.

Philosopher Julian Baggini talks to Dionne Christian about moral dilemmas and exchanging ideas.

When a journalist - and tech industry skeptic - went to work for a start up.

COMMENT: Four hundred years after the writer's death it's time to acknowledge Shakespeare has less to offer the modern world.

Male friendships have always fascinated American author Hanya Yanagihara.

Former soldier Glyn Harper, now Professor of War Studies at Massey University, has written numerous history books and children's books.

Prolific American writer Jane Smiley has been described as 'the best living American novelist'. She talks to Greg Bruce about Donald Trump, perfectionism and her mid-life crisis.

In this, the sixth in Jeffrey Archer's Clifton Chronicles, the master story teller continues the saga of the triumphs and tribulations of the Clifton and Barrington families.

A new book argues the view that World War I is a pointless conflict fails to consider myriad positive experiences that continue to shape our lives today.

Ian McGuire's story of brutality, greed and whaling - set aboard a boat off the coast of Greenland - is worth seeking out, especially for those of you who are not squeamish.

Former resistance activist and rape survivor Carmen Aguirre these days channels her revolutionary impulses into theatre and writing, says Dionne Christian.

"Nothing moves forward in a story except through conflict," writes Robert McKee of Story Seminar fame.

Television comedian-cum-birdwatcher and writer Bill Oddie talks to Greg Bruce about his path through fame and depression.

Yes, Gwyneth Paltrow does eat carbs! An exclusive extract from her new book, It's All Easy.

Alan Bollard has written two books about Bill Phillips, a visionary New Zealander who changed the world of economics.

Author JK Rowling has revealed who her favourite Harry Potter character is.

A spokesman for GCHQ said: "We do not comment on our defence against the dark arts."

A pristine copy of Hawaiian Surfboard is part of the Rare Books collection up for grabs.

Paul Theroux is one of the great travel writers because he makes you eager to visit where he writes about, even when he sharply gets what's wrong with it.

Dozens of authors will visit for the Auckland Writers Festival but what's it like to be a visiting author far from home?

It took Herman Melville 135 chapters to get to the part when the whale and the captain do battle, but it took 165 years for scientists it prove it's actually possible.

A visiting British reading advocate says reading can help fight poverty.

Sir Ian McKellen returned a £1 million memoir advance because he found writing it "painful".