Last weekend we travelled down to North Yorkshire from Scotland to meet crime writing friends at the Theakston’s Old Peculiar Crime Writing Festival which takes place in and around the Old Swan hotel in Harrogate.
Although we met up with many good friends we hadn’t seen in a while, it was also the chance for me to meet my agent Euan Thorneycroft for the first time in person, as well as to hook up with a few of the lovely writers and editorial team from #TeamOrenda, just a week after my fabulous publisher Karen Sullivan announced she had signed me in a two-book deal.
The genteel streets around the hotel come to life over the four day event as the cream of the country’s crime writing royalty converge mostly around the bar in one of the marquees out on the lawn. For me it was great to be back. Pre-pandemic I pitched to the Panel at Dragon’s Pen in 2019 which was a first scary, but crucial step on the road to publication. I was delighted to be back, this time with a book deal and to be greeted with some overwhelming support from lots of writers and friends, many of whom had seen the brilliant cover of my debut novel #CrowMoon which will be published in Spring 2023.
Other than meeting my agent Euan and fellow Orenda team authors, other highlights included catching up with pals Mari and Mo, Val, Alex, Abir, Kelly, Cheralyn, Rob, Louise (Fairburn and Welsh), Victoria, Ann, and my cocktail sister Alison, as well as the wonderful girls from the Moniack crew, June, Gillian, Sylvia and Claire and a few folks from the VNATB team. I also managed to quickly say high to Jo, who mentored me through the Future Bookshelf scheme during lockdown.
It was absolutely smashing and can’t wait til next year when I’ll be there for the first time as a published author with a book!
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