Whanganui Literary Festival begins next Saturday

Mary-Ann Ewing, Helen Frances, Airini Beautrais, Catherine McDonald, Lyn White and Gillian Tasker practice their good manners. Photo by Bevan Conley.

Whanganui Literary Festival Trust members were keeping their elbows off the table and practicing good manners on Friday.

In a dress rehearsal for the High Tea and Etiquette: Elbows off the Table, Please festival event with chef and author Jo Seagar.

Seagar will be talking about her new etiquette book, Elbows off the Table, Please, at the high tea on Sunday, October 8 in the Pioneer Room at the Whanganui War Memorial.

Literary Festival Trust chairwoman Gillian Tasker said although there were no men present at the rehearsal, they will be very welcome at the High Tea event.

"It is a chance for gentlemen to wear their best attire and practice their table manners too," she said.

"There have been a lot of advance bookings for the event but the festival has many opportunities for meeting and greeting writers and all the events include great prizes."

There will also be opportunity to chat to Seagar and other festival writers at the Cocktails and Canapes event at Muducks on Saturday, October 7.

Whanganui Literary Festival 2017: September 29 to October 8. Programmes available at venues around town or visit writersfest.co.nz. Book at Royal Wanganui Opera House.