Out and about…

It’s been a very busy spring for me. I’ve dealt with the copy edits for the third of my Maybridge Murder Mysteries – more about that later – but after a weekend in Brighton with the Crime Writers’ Association, last weekend I was in Bristol at CRIMEfest.

Meeting Readers and Writers

This is an event for both writers and readers. On the first morning I shared my breakfast table with Martina, a charming lady and lover of crime fiction, who’d flown in from Austria to hear the authors she loves talking about their latest books and about their writing life.

 

This is us at the end of a very busy weekend, suitcases packed, loaded with books and waiting for our taxis!

Panels Crimefest panel with left to right, Simon Brett, Linda Mather, Alice Bell, T E Kinsey, Liz Fielding

I took part in two panels – the first An Absence of Malice: the lighter side of cozy crime fiction – with Linda Mather, Alice Bell, T E Kinsey and Simon Brett.

It was my first time moderating a panel — this was my “do something that scares you” moment — and they were all very kind to me. And Simon — teasing — gave me the opportunity to offer a stout rebuttal  of the crime writers’ constant refrain – “If you want to be stabbed in the back, go to the romantic novelists conference…”

Crimefest panel with from left to right, Liz Fielding, Alex Stone, Felix Francis, Alex Shaw, Michael Stanley

And I was on another panel with Felix Francis, Alex Stone, Alex Shaw and Michael Stanley  (who is in fact two people, but this is Stanley!) on the subject of moral dilemma in crime fiction — something that Abby Finch was faced with in the Murder Among the Roses, my first Maybridge Murder Mystery.

Christy Newport

I went to several other panels — although with three running at the same time, it was sometimes hard to choose, especially when friends were appearing on different panels at the same time.

I was particularly impressed with the Whose story?: Representation , Diversity and Inclusion in Crime Fiction and the chance to listen to Christy Newport – who won the Joffe author prize in 2023 – and meet up with her at our publisher’s dinner on Friday evening. I can’t wait to read her prize winning book, The Raven’s Mark.

And there were stars Maxim Jakubowski with Lynda la Plante

The writers at the festival were at all levels in their career.  Many were just at the beginning, some were there just to listen, but some were mega stars like Lynda La Plante, who this is the recipient of the Crime Writer’s Association Diamond Dagger for their contribution to the genre.

She was a hoot!