Category: Events

CRIMEFEST welcomes SHERLOCK to Bristol

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CRIMEFEST logo

CRIMEFEST logo

Wow, this is huge!

CRIMEFEST, the fabulous crime writing festival held in Bristol, UK,  is all set to host a panel with the makers of the simply wonderful crime drama SHERLOCK.

The panel will include Mark Gatiss, actor (Mycroft Holmes), author and series co-creator, producer and co-creator Steven Moffat, and producer Sue Vertue.

The panel is scheduled for Saturday, 1 June, 1.40pm – 2:30pm.

Attendance of the panel is included in the Full and Saturday CRIMEFEST passes, and a limited number of £15 tickets are available for just the panel.

If you want to be there pop over to the CRIMEFEST website and bag a ticket fast at http://www.crimefest.com/sherlock.html

I’ve got my ticket!

Events Alert: Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival’s “Creative Thursday”

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festival logo

festival logo

I’ve just heard that bookings are now open for the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival’s creative writing course for aspiring writers – Creative Thursday. Held on Thursday 18th July 2013, and running from 9am to 6pm, it’s a fabulous opportunity for those interested in writing crime.

This day-long programme of workshops and seminars gives aspiring crime and thriller writers access to bestselling crime writers, publishing industry professionals and real-life crime experts.

The workshop will cover topics including:

  • Learning from the Greats
  • Constructing Character and Plot
  • Interactive Session with the Forensic Science Society
  • Plus the return of The Dragons Pen – Dare you enter and pitch your novel idea?

In addition, a lucky few Creative Thursday participants with a completed concept for a crime novel will get the opportunity to pitch their book to two agents

The Creative Thursday workshop costs £99.

To find out more, pop over to the Festival website here: http://harrogateinternationalfestivals.com/crime/creative-thursday/

Or to book your place, contact the festival office on 01423 562 303 or email crime@harrogate-festival.org.uk

 

 

A wonderful launch: C&R Crime

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C&R Crime launch

C&R Crime launch

 

Wonderful publishers Constable & Robinson launched their new consolidated crime imprint C&R CRIME on the 28th February.

I was really excited to be invited to the launch party, held at the fabulous location ‘The Crypt’ just off Trafalgar Square, London. It was a fabulous evening with loads of authors, the C&R Crime team, book bloggers and reviewers all mingling and chatting.

M.C. Beaton gave a speech in honour of the occasion, and it was revealed that she is just about to have her 106th novel published – a simply amazing feat.

C&R Crime have got some great books out at the moment including The Poacher’s Son by Paul Doiron (reviewed on this blog in February) and The Circus by James Craig (which I’m currently reading).

I’m also really looking forward to Quentin Bates’ new novel that’s coming out in April.

 

To find out more about C&R Crime head over to their website at http://www.crcrime.co.uk/

Attending the (Transworld) Crime Scene

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Transworld Crime Scene poster

Transworld Crime Scene poster

On Wednesday I was really excited to be heading over to the first ever Transworld Crime Scene event at Transworld Publishers, Ealing.

Special guest for the evening was Cath Staincliffe, author of the Scott & Bailey novelisations, who was interviewed by Rachel Rayner, Commissioning Editor for Crime and Thrillers.

Cath spoke about her latest book in the series BLEED LIKE ME and about how she ensures that the novels dovetail in with the television series and also work as stories in their own right.

With the Scott & Bailey series, plus standalone novels and radio plays in production, Cath sounds like she never has a dull moment.

When asked about her writing process, Cath revealed that she always writes her novels out in longhand first before typing them onto the computer. To make sure the procedural details and technical aspects are correct, she checks them with a police adviser before the final draft.

After the interview, Cath signed copies of her new book, BLEED LIKE ME, and there was plenty of time to chat to the Transworld editorial crime team, bloggers, competition winners and the folks from Dead Good Books.

It was a fabulous evening.

As well as the Scott & Bailey series, Cath also writes standalone crime novels for C&R Crime. Her next standalone book BLINK OF AN EYE will be published next month.

BLEED LIKE ME by Cath Staincliffe is available now (watch this space for a review coming soon).

Events Alert: Murder in the (British) Library

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Pulp Fiction - BW

Pulp Fiction – BW (Photo credit: Mark Coggins)

If you’re a crime fiction enthusiast like me then you might want to check out the ‘Murder in the Library: An A-Z of Crime Fiction’.

Installed at the British Library, London, this free exhibition is sponsored by The Folio Society.

It showcases the genre’s development from the early 19th century up to the present day, and will be open up to 12th May 2013.

For more information check out the British Library website at: http://www.bl.uk/whatson/exhibitions/murder/index.html

Maybe I’ll see you there …

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Events Alert: Get Writing 2013

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Get Writing 2013 logo

Get Writing 2013 logo

The 20th April 2013 is the date of the Verulam Writers’ Circle annual writing conference ‘Get Writing’.

Held at the University of Hertfordshire campus in Hatfield, England, this friendly and variety-packed conference is a one-day event and a must-attend for all writers aspiring to publication.

This year there’s a wide variety of sessions to pick from including workshops and panel discussions on childrens’ fiction, crime writing, historical fiction, writing drama, and some fabulous ‘how to’ sessions on editing, creating tension and a whole bunch of other essential writerly skills. For the conference fee of £55 you also get the opportunity to pitch your novel to an agent of your choice and, for those looking for more detailed feedback, you can pay a little extra and book a longer ‘Face Time’ slot.

I’m especially excited about this years’ event as I’ve been asked to chair the Crime Panel. I’ll be talking with the wonderful crime authors Claire McGowan, Adrian Magson, Ann Cleeves, and Lesley Horton. I’m sure it’s going to be a lot of fun, and I’m really looking forward to picking their brains on how they get their ideas, their writing process, the essentials of crime thriller writing, and any tips and advice they have for those aspiring to publication.

Also, for those with a novel, or the opening of a novel, ready to go there’s the ‘First Three Pages’ competition. It’s open to all attendees and requires you to submit the first three pages of a novel of any genre. So, Get Writing!

Booking is open now at http://vwc.org.uk/getwriting2013.php

Perhaps I’ll see you there?

 

Looking forward to summer: Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival

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 With the snow around us, one thing that’s keeping me going is planning how I’ll be spending the summer (hopefully warmer) months.

Something I’m really looking forward to is the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, Harrogate. This festival of all things crime fiction is my idea of a perfect weekend getaway. So from 18 – 21 July 2013 I’ll be staking out the festival hotel and making optimum use of my weekend rover ticket.

It promises to be a fabulous weekend with special guests including Lee Child, Kate Atkinson, Charlaine Harris, Susan Hill, Ruth Rendell interviewed by Jeanette Winterson and Programming Chair, Val McDermid.

Weekend Break packages can be booked now, and individual event tickets go on sale in the Spring when the full programme is announced.

If you’re a fan of the genre, avid reader and/or budding writer, the festival website is well worth checking out http://harrogateinternationalfestivals.com/crime/ 

I’m really looking forward to it.

Perhaps I’ll see you there?

Events Alert: The Thriller Roundtable

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If you’re interested in reading (and writing) crime thrillers then The Thriller Roundtable discussions over on The Big Thrill website are well worth checking out.

Each week features a new question, answered by a range of fabulous authors.

This month they’ll be covering:

January 7 – 13: “Which authors have inspired you?” with Jennie Bentley, Derek J. Goodman, Robin Burcell, Toby Tate, Ashok Banker, Tace Baker, Rick Reed, William McCormick, Chris Allen, Judith Cutler, Sharon Alice Grace, and Amy Lignor.

January 14 – 20: “Why do stories matter?” with C.E. Lawrence, Amy Lignor, Derek J. Goodman, J.G. Faherty, James Grippando, Mike Befeler, Merry Jones, William McCormick, Chris Allen, and Catherine Stovall.

January 21 – 27: “What’s you favourite thriller sub genre? Why?” with Ashok Banker, Vincent Zandri, Diane Kelly, Chris Allen, and Amy Lignor.

January 28 – February 3: “How do you determine when a story is ready?” with Toby Tate, Vincent Zandri, Merry Jones, Chris Allen, Catherine Stovall, Judith Cutler, Melinda Leigh, Sharon Alice Geyer, and Amy Lignor.

To find out more visit:  http://www.thebigthrill.org/category/thriller-roundtable/

 

 

 

Left Coast Crime 2013 add Lou Diamond Phillips to their line-up

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Lou Diamond Phillips

Lou Diamond Phillips (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Left Coast Crime is an annual mystery and thriller enthusiast event for readers, writers and librarians and next year it runs March 21 – 24 in Colorado Springs, CO.

2013 Guests of Honor are Craig Johnson and Laura Lippman, Toastmaster will be David Corbett and “Last Resort” Troubadour is Parnell Hall. In addition, they’ve got Fan Guests of Honor Tom and Enid Schantz attending and have selected Stephen J. Cannell as their Ghost of Honor.

And – news flash -they’ve just announced that Lou Diamond Phillips will be joining them to interview Guest of Honor Craig Johnson.

If you live in the area, or fancy a trip to Colorado next March, you can find out all the details on their website: http://www.leftcoastcrime.org/2013/

Events: Crime Fiction Academy taking applications for Spring 2013 intake

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If you’re an aspiring crime writer and are close to (or get get to and spend a while in) New York, you might want to check this out …

The Crime Fiction Academy are now taking applications for their spring 2013 workshops.

This blog post by Jonathan Santlofer, the CFA Director, talks about why the CFA was set up, and what participants can expect from the programme: http://publishingperspectives.com/2012/09/crime-fiction-academy-where-a-listers-teach-aspiring-bestsellers/

You can find out more, and learn how to apply here: http://www.centerforfiction.org/crimefiction

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