In partnership with Dunedin Public Libraries and Cold Hub Press, Dunedin UNESCO City of Literature was proud to host a well-attended free event celebrating the publication of Jenny Powell’s Meeting Rita in the City Library on Tuesday 3 August 2021.

After an opportunity to mingle over refreshments, guests were warmly welcomed by Nicky Page, Director UNESCO City of Literature. Roger Hickin, Publisher at Cold Hub Press and responsible for this beautifully produced book, opened the evening’s festivities and introduced Jenny Powell and Kay McKenzie Cooke. Roger provided a history of his professional relationship with Jenny, and it was clear that he holds her and her poetry in very high esteem.

Meeting Rita is a wonderful collection of poetry, filled with many references to Rita Angus’ prolific career. Hearing Jenny read poems from her book, alongside an intimate conversation with friend and fellow writer Kay McKenzie Cooke about how the idea was planted in Jenny’s mind and similarities she found interesting between her life and that of Rita Angus, made the evening extremely memorable. The amount of research Jenny described together with some quirky coincidences along this journey were fascinating and added to the mana of the evening.