Join us for a captivating evening with acclaimed author Kirsty Gunn, as she discusses her latest short story collection, Pretty Ugly (Shortlisted for the Jann Medlicott Acorn Prize for Fiction in the 2025 Ockham New Zealand Book Awards), in conversation with publisher and writer, Sue Wootton.
Pretty Ugly is a collection that doesn’t shy away from life’s messier, more complex truths. Across thirteen darkly compelling stories set in New Zealand and the UK, Gunn examines the raw edges of human experience—jealousy, desire, disappointment, and endurance—with her trademark elegance and emotional precision.
In this special event, Kirsty Gunn and Sue Wootton will explore the art of writing stories that illuminate the “ugly” beauty of our inner lives. Together, they’ll delve into the power of fiction to expose uncomfortable truths, exploring how storytelling can illuminate the raw, hidden, and often messy realities of being human.
Whether you're a devoted fan of short fiction, fascinated by the craft of storytelling, or simply curious about the way literature can confront and comfort us, this will be an evening not to miss.
5:30pm–7:00pm
Wednesday 21 May 2025
Level 4, Dunningham Suite
Dunedin City Library
Free event – All welcome!
Proudly supported by The University of Otago Centre for Irish and Scottish Studies, Dunedin Public Libraries and the University Book Shop Otago.
You may also like the following events from Otago University Press:
Also check out other
Arts events in Dunedin,
Literary Art events in Dunedin.
