8 October 2007

New Zealand nurse talks about Darfur experience

"Darfur broke my heart and drained my soul," says Lisa Blaker, a New Zealand nurse who will discuss her new autobiography Heart of Darfur at a New Zealand Book Council event in Wellington on 31 October.

Blaker has worked as a nurse in conflict zones all over the world and spent nine months in the Sudan working for Médicins sans Frontières witnessing the horrors of the war that rages in Darfur.

In the introduction to her book Blaker says, 'People ask 'What is it like in Darfur? Is it as bad as they say?' And I lean forward, wanting to know the worst, drawn to the questions the way a child is drawn to a story of a wolf in the forest. I tell them, 'Darfur is the best and the worst I have ever seen'.'

To many in the West the conflict in Darfur appears complicated and overwhelming. Blaker writes with clarity about day to day living in a warzone and her experiences that have made it impossible to settle back down to a happy and safe life in New Zealand

This event is one of more than 40 events featured in the New Zealand Book Council's annual Booked Out series. Book Council Chief Executive Noel Murphy says that Booked Out events provide a great chance for readers to hear New Zealand and international writers talk about their work.

'One of the Book Council's roles is to promote a love of reading and connect writers with readers,' he says. 'We do this through our various programmes in schools and communities throughout New Zealand.'

The New Zealand Book Council is a not-for-profit organisation focused on bringing together books, writers and readers. The Heart of Darfur event is supported by the Newtown Community and Cultural Centre.

Wellington, Wednesday 31 October Time: 6.30pm-7.30pm Venue: Newtown Community and Cultural Centre cnr Rintoul and Colombo Streets Koha accepted, no ticket required

ENDS

© Scoop Media