Authors left a trail of clues at the world’s biggest crime writing festival.
JK Rowling hinted she would write more than seven Cormoran Strike novels.
The Harry Potter creator, dressed in a suit and tie as a nod to her pen name Robert Galbraith, told a one-off, sell-out audience of 1,000 fans that her third book would explore the plight of wounded servicemen leaving the forces and added she could continue as long as she had crimes for her hero to solve.
The 12th Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, held amid the biscuit-coloured stone grandeur of Harrogate in Yorkshire, has grown into the world’s biggest celebration of its kind.
The four-day event attracted 15,000 fans and dozens of top authors including Val McDermid, Mark Billingham, Sophie Hannah, SJ Watson, Denise Mina, Anya Lipska, Julia Crouch and Charles Cumming.
I had the chance to meet Tony Parsons and had a chat with Simon Kernick, whose new thriller is out in January.
Debut author Susi Holliday has received very positive early reviews for her first book Black Wood, out next spring, and James Law’s writing career is on the up.
Olivia Colman and Jodie Whittaker described being part of Broadchurch’s phenomenal TV success. Writer Chris Chibnall said Broadchurch2, currently filming, features new faces including Charlotte Rampling.
Belinda Bauer won the Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award for Rubbernecker and Prime Suspect creator Lynda La Plante scooped the Outstanding Contribution to Crime Fiction Award.
The festival got off to an early start when I had the chance to interview Ann Cleeves as she signed copies of her new book Harbour Street aboard at East Coast train.
The author of the Vera and Shetland series hosted a murder mystery dinner at the festival venue, The Old Swan Hotel, where crime legend Agatha Christie went missing in 1926.
The festival can be a bit intimidating for first-timers. It’s busy and it’s intense but offers a wonderful opportunity for readers and fans to mingle with their favourite authors.
New addition this year was a beer tent on the lawn where much Theakston’s Tour De Wot? was consumed, supplemented by the occasional pint of Black Sheep.
The weather was brilliant apart from a brief violent thunderstorm but at times like that a beer tent has other uses.
Next year’s festival is already taking shape with Sara Paretsky and Arnaldur Indriðason as prime suspects.
The biggest shock revelation of 2014 came from crime fan Scott Turner, 28, from Gloucester, who went down on one knee and proposed to girlfriend Jo Parker, 39. The couple met at the festival in 2009.
Scott said: “What better place to do it? If she said no, it’s a good location for a murder.”
I’M very pleased with the response to GUNNER, the ebook of my father’s war diary. It’s not Saving Private Ryan. It’s a family project with my daughter and brother, only 77p and all proceeds go to a military charity.
www.facebook.com/DannyLancasterInvestigates
@williamjtodd
Remembering Barbara – www.barbaragubbins.co.uk