14 May 2015

Book industry thriving, say festival organisers

9:26 pm on 14 May 2015

The organisers of the Auckland Writers Festival say the book industry is as strong as ever.

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Photo: 123rf

They are expecting a record turnout of about 55,000 people for the festival, which starts today.

The festival director, Anne O'Brien said there might be a shift away from traditional books to electronic devices, but reading had lost none of its popularity.

She said the festival's burgeoning audience was related to New Zealander Eleanor Catton's success in winning the Booker Prize.