July 2015 – Life of Cri.me

Home again

Posted on July 31, 2015October 16, 2015 by J

Me “Under The Blue Umbrella” from Mr Mercedes by Stephen King

It’s been two weeks since I made the journey up North to Harrogate, and it already seems a world away, and yet at the same time, for now at least, and for reasons both good and not so good, it’s not a festival I am going to forget in a hurry.

Following the opening party on Thursday night, I took a spill on the hotel steps, and ended up spending the early hours of Friday morning in a local accident and emergency department, before returning to the festival to spend the rest of the weekend making my way around on crutches.

After last years proposal, this was a source of some merriment among some of the more regular festival goers who were keen to discover what the plan was for next year to ensure that everyone attending knows who I am…. Still as can be seen from Col Bury’s Harrogate write up, I wasn’t the only one to leave the festival with more than a few bruises.

So the not so good news is I’m still suffering quite a lot of pain, although I’m walking around unaided, but being positive, injury aside, I still managed to come back from the festival with an impressive amount of books, mainly due to directing my friends between events and giveaways by means of a waving crutch. I now have a great excuse to spend all my spare time with my feet up and I’ve plenty to keep me busy for a while, all I need to do is remember to post my reviews!

Also as I was once more attending the festival as a representative of CrimeSquad.com, the website run by the fabulous Chris Simmons for whom I also review and report for, I was lucky enough to spend some time in the company of both Hakan Nesser and Arnaldur Indridason, two fantastic gentlemen, who were both an easy delight to talk too – You can read my interviews with both of them over on the CrimeSquad.com Harrogate Microsite

A tired me, a very smooth looking Hakan Nesser

Arnaldur Indridason. Awsome man, fabulous books

Blogging, Festivals

The Harrogate Book Haul

Posted on July 23, 2015August 1, 2015 by J

Just one of the many reasons why I enjoy heading up to The Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, the free books….. This year of the twenty I brought home only one was purchased, and not by me.

Blogging, Festivals

Heading for Harrogate

Posted on July 18, 2015August 1, 2015 by J

Yes, it’s that time of year again, I really can’t believe it has come around so quickly, but tomorrow I shall be heading up north for what is now the ninth time to attend the 2015 Theakston’s Old Peculiar Crime Writing Festival.

I have some amazing activities lined up, a few dinners and party invites to take up, and I’m looking forward to catching up with the many friends I have there that I only get to see when the festival comes around.

I’m looking forward to going even more than usual this year however. Wearing my Crimesquad.com hat I will be interviewing Hakan Nesser & Arnaldur Indridason for articles to be posted over there so I’m ridiculously squeeing, and at the same time I’m terribly nervous. When the interviews go up I’ll add some links, or alternatively if you haven’t already, make sure you add CrimeSquad.com to your favourites. It’s a fantastic site I love being a part of, and since it’s recently celebrated its 10th anniversary, there is an absolute wealth of reviews to be discovered in its archives.

Now I’m off for some last minute packing and prep. Do stop me and and say hello if you are up at the festival this year, you’ll more than likely find me in the bar…..

Blogging

I do love a good mystery….

Posted on July 9, 2015 by J

and I had one delivered today…..

I was immediately curious when I found this inside.

Which was full of intriguing things….

And very shiny proof copy of….

Squee! 😀

Blogging, Festivals

Bloody Scotland Short Story Competition – Closing 27th July

Posted on July 8, 2015July 8, 2015 by J

This is what the festival have to say about the competition…..

The Great Agatha Christie Inspires our Short Story Competition

This year marks 125 years since Agatha Christie was born, known world-wide as one of the most well-loved crime writers of all time, one who had a penchant for poison and created unforgettably charismatic sleuths.

We wanted to celebrate her legacy with our short story competition this year- we’re inviting stories inspired by Christie and her writing.

First prize is £1000 and a festival pass to Bloody Scotland 2015.

Submissions of up to 3,000 words of unpublished work are invited from new and unpublished writers from all over the world, but entries must be written in English. Writers are welcome to submit as many stories as they wish, but there is an entry fee of £10 for each story submitted. The deadline for submissions is midnight on Monday 27th July 2015.

A shortlist of five to six stories will be selected by a judging panel comprising of University of Stirling postgraduate students, authors, booksellers and publishers, which will then be made available for an online public vote on Saturday 1st August 2015. This public vote will end on Friday 21st August. Winners will be announced during the Bloody Scotland Festival 2015, 11th – 13th September in Stirling, Scotland

Terms and Conditions & Details of how to enter can be found here