John Connolly tour dates released

Further to my 'scoop' of 18 March, revealing that international crime fiction star John Connolly would be touring New Zealand midyear, the specific event details and dates have now been released.

Although the events list is not yet up on the local publisher's website, and has not yet been publicised here, the John Connolly website now includes the New Zealand dates and events on his tour schedule. So I'm taking that as pretty official. Thanks to Paul Cleave for the heads-up about the Connolly website update. Update - I just received confirmation from John Connolly's publicist as I was writing this, and some further details around the events (see below).

Connolly will be touring downunder (he will also have some events in Australia prior to heading to New Zealand) to promote his latest Charlie Parker novel, THE WHISPERERS, which is released in the UK today, and in the USA on 13 July. You can read the prologue to this upcoming book, here. The tour will also time with the paperback release of THE GATES, his first novel for younger readers. The New Zealand events are as follows:

Tuesday 1st June - Auckland
Auckland City Libraries presents an evening with John Connolly6:00 PM (Light refreshments (includes glass of wine) at 5:30 PM
Whare Wananga, Central Library, Level 2, 44-46 Lorne Street, Auckland
Tickets: (on sale from Friday May 14th) $15 each, includes glass of wine
Tickets can be purchased online at http://www.aucklandcitylibraries.com/whisperers or in person at Central City Library, ground floor
For further information call 377 0209

Wednesday 2nd June - ChristchurchAn Evening with Irish crime writer John Connolly
7.30pm
Our City O-Tautahi, cnr Oxford Tce & Worcester Boulevard, Christchurch
Tickets: $12 from Ruth Todd, ph 384 4721

Thursday 3rd June – Taupo and Rotorua
Taupo Library Is Proud To Bring You Award-winning Thriller Writer John Connolly1.00pm
Taupo Library

Rotorua District Library Is Proud To Bring You Award-winning Thriller Writer John Connolly5.30pm
Rotorua District Library, 1127 Haupapa St, Rotorua

I have copies of THE WHISPERERS and THE GATES on my bookshelf, so it looks like I have a little bit of Connolly reading to do between now and 1 June (I will be going to the Auckland event). I am hoping to interview John Connolly either prior to his New Zealand tour, or while he is here - and I will make sure to include the 9mm questions in amongst any larger interview, and share his thoughts on those with you here (of course).

Have you read John Connolly's books? Are you a fan of Charlie Parker? Would you be keen to see him at an author event? For those overseas readers - have you seen him at an event before? Please share your thoughts, comments, and experiences.