crime fiction festivals – Life of Cri.me

Nordicana 2015 – Coming Soon…

Posted on April 28, 2015April 28, 2015 by J

Moving from its previous February slot, Nordicana is set to return to London in June 2015.

Here’s what Nordic Noir has to say about this years event…

From 6th-7th June 2015, fans with a criminal curiosity for provocative Nordic crime dramas will be flocking to the Troxy theatre in London for the 3rd Nordicana festival. The event promises a plethora of top talent – from internationally famed writers to the brightest stars of film and television that the Northern Lights have to offer. For the first time ever, Nordicana will also be recognising other top European shows influenced by the Nordic style.

The festival is designed to allow audiences the chance to explore the intoxicating realm of Nordic Noir and to get up close and personal, with an interactive collection of cultural activities to choose from. A tantalising range of food, drink, design and culture combines the excitement of a cultural expo with the flair of a film and literary festival.

The evolution of the show continues in 2015 with a brand new team taking the concept into a fresh, revised format. All ticket holders will enjoy their own numbered seat for the day and can relax in-between talks and screenings. We will have a focused set of events on one main stage across the entire weekend.

Head over to NordicNoir.tv to keep up with the latest developments

Blogging, Festivals

Closing Soon – Deal Noir Flash Fiction Competition

Posted on March 12, 2015March 12, 2015 by J

Create a crime novel in just 100 words for the chance to win a signed copy of the latest novel from one of the distinguished authors appearing at Deal Noir.

The winner will be announced at the Deal Noir Conference on 28th March 2015.

The Rules

The closing date for entries is 20th March 2015. Only one entry per person. Submissions must be publishable and written in English. The decision of the judges is final.

Submit your entries on the Deal Noir website.

Deal Noir takes place at The Landmark Centre, Deal on 28th March. Tickets are available here.

Blogging, Festivals

Newcastle Noir Programme Announced

Posted on March 12, 2015March 12, 2015 by J

May is always a busy month for crime fiction fans, and 2015 is no exception, with not one, not two, but THREE festivals for crime fans to pick and choose between. Kicking of the month in fantastic style is Newcastle Noir, returning for its second year, the festival has expanded from one to two days in length, and has this week announced this cracking programme of events.

Saturday 2nd May

10-12noon | Writing Workshop with Christiana Gregoriou, Bea Davenport and Barbara Nadel.

11am-12pm Classic Crime Readings with Kay Hepplewhite

11am-1pm Murderous Newcastle Walking Tour with Pat Lowery, Newcastle City Guide. Begins at the Castle Keep, ends at the Lit & Phil. .

12.30-1.30pm Panel discussion: Northern Landscapes with authors Howard Linskey, Nick Quantrill and David Mark Craig Robertson, chaired by Luca Veste

2.30-3.30pm Panel discussion: Writers in Prison with Mari Hannah, Russ Litten and Alexandra Sokoloff, chaired by Louise Ridley

4.30-5.30pm Panel discussion: Award winning crime-writers Martyn Waites and Mark Billingham in conversation

6.30-7.30pm Panel discussion: From page to screen to page with Cilla and Rolf Börjlind, Erin Kelly and Christopher Brookmyre

8.30pm-9.30pm Panel discussion: Gangsters & Gangs with Philip J. Howard, David McCaffery and Steve Wraith, chaired by Charlotte Bilby

Sunday 3rd May
10-12noon Writing Workshop with Christiana Gregoriou, William Ryan, Bea Davenport and Barbara Nadel.

11am-1pm Murderous Newcastle Walking Tour with Pat Lowery, Newcastle City Guide. Begins at the Castle Keep, ends at the Lit & Phil.

11.30am-12.30pm Panel discussion: Crime in Translation with Dominique Mannotti, Roz Schwartz and Ragnar Jónasson, chaired by Jacky Collins

1.30-2.30pm Victorian Villanies with Gail-Nina Anderson

3.30-4.30pm Panel discussion: Legal Eagles with Peter Murphy, Steve Cavanagh and Clare Donoghue, chaired by Ayo Onatade

5.30-6.30pm Panel discussion: Crime Authors/Creative writers with William Ryan, Bea Davenport and Barbara Nadel, chaired by M. J. MacGrath

7.30-8.30pm Panel discussion: New Blood with Eva Dolan, Kati Hiekkapelto and Susan Wilkins, chaired by Sarah Ward

Newcastle Noir is based at Newcastle’s Literary & Philosophical Society (The Lit & Phil) Britain’s largest independent library outside London, and celebrates the best in crime fiction.

Information on tickets and how to book your place can be found at http://www.litandphil.org.uk/events.shtml

Festivals

ShetlandNoir – Coming in 2015

Posted on December 12, 2014December 14, 2014 by J

Iceland Noir takes a break in 2015, and moves over to Shetland for the year.

Shetland Arts and Promote Shetland are delighted to announce that Shetland Noir, in association with Iceland Noir, will take place at Mareel from Friday 13 November until Sunday 15 November 2015.

The Crime Fiction Festival will be the first of its kind ever to be held in Shetland and the headliners will be: Denise Mina, Stuart MacBride and Alex Gray from Scotland, and Arne Dahl, Yrsa Sigurðardóttir and Hakan Nesser, representing the Nordic countries. Further writers will be announced in 2015.

The festival will be centred in Mareel, and a festival ticket, on sale now via Shetland Box Office, will ensure access to all of the panel events, and to a choice of fringe activities which will include specialist bus tours and other activities, to be announced in 2015. Further information about Shetland Noir, in association with Iceland Noir, is available on the festival website www.shetlandnoir.com and festival tickets can be purchased from Shetland Box Office in Mareel & Islesburgh, over the phone on 01595 745 555, and online at mareel.org and shetlandboxoffice.org.

Blogging, Festivals

New Festival! Welcome to the calendar Crime Story

Posted on February 24, 2014February 24, 2014 by J

Not content with announcing a fabulous competition for aspiring Northern crime writers last week, New Writing North in conjunction with Northumbria University has just launched CrimeStory, a new crime fiction festival to run at their campus in the heart of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne.

CrimeStory will run over the weekend of Saturday 31st May & Sunday 1st June 2014, and in the manner of all the best crime fiction, it comes with a delicious twist on the usual festival idea.

The weekend will focus on a fictional murder that we’ve commissioned from best-selling crime novelist Ann Cleeves in which a woman finds her foster-son dead in a locked room, a blood-splattered picture of an enigmatic woman on the wall and the dubious landlord nowhere to be found. The killer? Well, that’s up to the Crime Story participants

Crime Story will take place on 31 May-1 June and a host of top crime writers, criminologists, lawyers, police and forensics experts will walk attendees through the investigation, trial and punishment of the crime. There will be opportunities to participate in the digital autopsy of a computer, find out about ‘life inside’ from Guardian columnist Erwin James or listen to novelist Louise Welsh talking to former Observer crime fiction critic Peter Guttridge.

If it shapes up to be as interactive as it sounds, it will certainly be a welcome addition to the crime calendar.

“In Crime Story writers will have the chance to find out from experts and practitioners how the criminal justice system really works. A young man has been found dead in his flat. What happens next is down to the authors, academics and forensic scientists who’ll be exploring the scene. CRIME STORY will be great opportunity for the writers of crime fiction to meet the experts who work in and research this field.”

– Ann Cleeves

Early Bird booking rates of £99 for adults, with a £10 discount for students are available until the 14th March. You can book your tickets here