Yep, made that terrible pun again. I can’t help it. I just have to!

Today, the Wheeler Centre have released their events program for the next quarter.

I thought it would be hard to top last quarter’s program – Shane Maloney was very entertaining, Irvine Welsh was great, the Meanland panels on eReaders were important stuff. So I was curious to see what they’d be doing to beat that this quarter.

To be honest, I panicked a bit when I saw June. “The Deakins 2010” lectures take up most of June, and they’re not really something that interests me. As important as I know this stuff is.

July, however, is reasonably jam-packed with winners.

The week beginning on the 5th of July is “A Week of Love and Lust” … Most of what’s on during this week seems a little trashy, but no doubt far too enjoyable. Most of interest to me though, is the Lunchbox/Soapbox event about “The Case For Gay Marriage”. Well done, Wheeler!

Also during this week is a night about “Erotic Fan Fiction”, where the fantastic Marieke Hardy and Justin Heazelwood (and others) “turn their craft into a night of smut and hilarity”…

On the 14th of July John Birmingham, author of He Died With A falafel In His Hand will be speaking and promoting his new book.

“Voiceworks Live” on the 22nd of July will be a chance to meet fellow Voiceworks readers, as well as contributors and people behind the scenes of the fabulous publication.

On the 29th of July, Jennifer Byrne will be talking to Ayaan Hirsi Ali, who is a reasonably controversial feminist activist and political. This one is ticketed, and will be taking place at the Capitol Theatre, so probably quite a big night.

And THE big one for this quarter: Bret Easton Ellis. Author of Less Than Zero, Rules of Attraction, and American Psycho, amongst others, Bret will be in Australia talking about his new book, which is based around the characters from his debut novel Less Than Zero.

All in all – you’ve produced a winner, Wheeler! This kind of stuff is what makes us deserve the UNESCO “City Of Literature” title.