The biggest crime fiction festival in the WORLD kicks off tomorrow, and excitement levels are rising!
As I write this, and as you read it, some of the best & brightest authors in the land are making their way to Harrogate. Some from other lands too – Lauren Beukes, author of The Shining Girls, is flying in from South Africa tomorrow, and will be joined on her panel South of the Equator by antipodeans Helen Fitzgerald & Michael Robotham. This one is taking place on Saturday at 3.30pm.
On Friday, Andrew Taylor (who has just been awarded the Ellis Peters Historical Dagger for an unprecedented third time!) is taking part in a discussion of Victorian Crime: Fact or Fiction, chaired by Sarah Pinborough at 12pm.
On Friday night at 10pm, Charles Cumming will chair a panel for Fleming Fans, featuring Sam Bourne (pseudonym for Jonathan Freedland), JJ Connolly and Gregg Hurwitz. Late night chat amongst Bond fans… sure to be a lark!
On Saturday night, lucky fans get the chance to mingle with their favourite authors at a celebratory themed James Bond Murder Mystery Dinner. It’s 007 Style in honour of the 60th anniversary of Ian Fleming’s first James Bond novel Casino Royale. Charles Cumming and SJ Parris are among the author hosts.
Finishing up for HC on Sunday morning we have the legendary Stuart MacBride taking part in the intriguingly entitled panel Slaughtering the Sacred Cows, chaired by Mark Lawson at 10am. Some members of the audience may be blurry eyed, but have no fear, Stuart is worth the effort!
If you are planning to be at the festival at all, please do let us know – we’d love to catch up! For those who can’t make it this time, rest assured I’ll be tweeting live from the event to keep you in the loop.
