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27
Jul
‘The best weekend I’ve had all year’: My verdict on Harrogate's Crime Writing Festival
This weekend (July 23 – 26) saw famous authors, wannabe writers and book lovers descend on Harrogate for the legendary Crime Writing Festival.
Held every year at The Old Swan, Harrogate International Festivals’ Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival is a celebration of the crime fiction genre – and this year I was lucky enough to go.
As an avid reader and writer I have wanted to attend for years, and now that I live a 25-minute walk from the venue decided it was the time - and now I can’t imagine not going every year.
Free books galore
While the incredible author panels were hugely advertised, one part of the festival I hadn’t expected was all the giveaways.
Stalls were set up throughout the hotel, with games to play – and free books as the prize.
Grown adults were happy to play games to win free pens, notebooks and bookmarks. Credit: Gerard Binks.
One game involved getting a ‘phone call’ (i.e. pre-recorded message) from author John Marrs, and you had to reply with where he should bury a body in his next novel. Another was hook-a-duck with different prizes based on the colour sticker on the duck’s underside.
For those who aren’t so keen on putting themselves out there, some stands simply offered free proofs – books yet to be published – some signed by the author.
In one day alone I managed to get five free books and a couple of first chapter tasters.
For those with a bigger bookshelf (and wallet) than me, there was an on-site Waterstones filled with crime fiction, which was also the location of all the book signings.
Every author who spoke on a panel – names such as Lee Child, Lisa Jewell, David Baldacci, Anthony Horowitz and Gillian McAllister – all sat at the front of an endless queue, writing personalised dedications and posing for photos.
Yes, I did fan-girl over many of them. And when I apologised to Lee Child for making him stand for a photo he said: “It’s good for my knees.”
Authors spill the beans
One of the main draws of the festival is the author talks, all revolving around a theme – for example adapting a book for screen or how to write a serial killer.
The line-up was incredible, but the highlight had to be Lisa Jewell interviewed by Lee Child.
The rapport was so natural it was like watching two old friends chatting over dinner, and both authors were extraordinarily candid.
As a writer, I love to hear best-selling author’s tips, and was astounded to hear that neither plot their books in advance, knowing very little about what their story is before they sit down to write it.
Gillian McAllister and Holly Jackson discussing their methods with Fee Mak. Credit: Richard Maude.
Lisa Jewell said her latest book started with an idea for the inciting incident, but she didn’t know where it was going to go after that – to which Lee Child quipped “that sounds like too much planning to me”.
It turns out he “writes one word, then another” until the book is done. He does have the iconic character of Jack Reacher to get him started though.
Up until 2am
One of the most pleasant surprises of the weekend was the fellow festival goers.
I didn’t go with anyone, and I didn't know anyone who was going.
This was no issue at all – everyone was so welcoming and chatty that I was immediately at ease.
Given we’re all book lovers there were plenty of easy conversation starters, and you inevitably found a common interest soon.
In fact, I was having such a fun time talking to strangers about a passion I rarely get to indulge in it was suddenly 2am and way past my bedtime. My baby didn’t get the memo and still woke me up at 5:30am.
There was also a bar and seating inside a tent, with food vans and a barbeque outside. Credit: Richard Maude.
As well as the author events and pop-up stands there is an awards ceremony, a day-long writing workshop, Creative Thursday, and small functions hosted by individual publishers.
I nabbed a ticket for Creative Thursday the minute they were released, and it is the place to be for aspiring authors.
We got two-hour sessions on building suspense and plotting a twisty story with teachers from Curtis Brown Creative and Jericho Writers, as well as panel talks from bestselling authors.
At the end of the day, some people were even lucky enough to pitch their novel to four of the biggest names in publishing (alas, my name was not drawn).
All in all, the weekend was the best I’ve had in a long time – the perfect mix of learning and socialising, and reigniting my passion for writing and reading. Who knows, maybe one day I will be on the other side of the signing table.
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