As fictional crime is celebrated in Harrogate next weekend, one local business is getting in on the fun by staging its own murder mystery.
Imagined Things, the independent bookshop on Montpellier Hill, is inviting people to try to solve the murder of one of its bookseller.
After the crime is discovered in the basement, visitors will be asked to find clues around the shop and at other nearby shops to discover who committed the murder – and win a prize.
It’s all part of the fun brought to town by the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, which runs from Thursday, July 20 to Sunday, July 23.
While Imagined Things isn’t an official part of proceedings, owner Georgia Eckert said there is always an extra buzz around the shop during the festival:
“It’s a lovely atmosphere – you never know who you might meet. We even had Nicola Sturgeon just wander in randomly!”
As well as the murder mystery, Imagined Things is hosting five book signings during the festival, alongside a panel event at Harrogate Library with authors Michelle Frances, Ellery Lloyd and Ruth Kelly on Thursday evening.
The shop has also secured four books to sell before the official publication date in August.
Georgia said there are usually dozens of unexpected visitors through the doors too, with a total of 42 authors calling in to sign books during the festival in 2022.
Read more:
- Closing date approaches for Ripon Poetry Festival competition
- ‘Do it for David’: Harrogate Festivals boss set for Great North Run
Imagined Things is among the local businesses benefitting from the thousands of visitors arriving in town for the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, which this year marks its 20th anniversary.
It begins, as always, with the opening ceremony and announcement of the winner of the crime novel of the year and the outstanding contribution to crime fiction awards.
Over the following three days, workshops, panels and interviews will bring together some of the most established writers in the genre with up-and-coming names in one of the biggest events of its kind.
Its enthusiasts are not the only ones contributing to the success of the independent bookshop, which moved from its first home in the Westminster Arcade last June.
Georgia said:
Famous author to return to Ripon Poetry Festival“Every year, we’ve got a lovely lady who visits from France and orders a big box of books from us, which is amazing.
“Some people don’t have an independent local bookshop in their town, so they come to support us.
“There’s not as many of us now – although the numbers have been growing since 2017, when we opened. There was an overall increase in the number by one that year, after a 20-year decline, and it has gone up every year since.”
Internationally-famous children’s writer Michael Rosen, who helped to launch the first Ripon Poetry Festival in 2017, is returning to the city to take part in this year’s event.
The author, whose works include We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, features in a packed programme that also includes theatre legend Barrie Rutter, the actor and director who founded Northern Broadsides to champion acting talent from the north.
The festival, which will run from September 21 until October 1, is the biggest of its kind in Yorkshire and will also see performances from poets Hadley-James Hoyles, Alison Carr, Robert Powell and Sarah Wimbush.
In addition to workshops for children and adults and an open mic evening organised by Write-on Ripon and Ripon Writers Group, Tim Harrison, former director of music at Middlesbrough Cathedral is joining forces with author, poet and festival curator Andy Croft for the world premiere of a chamber oratorio.
At the heart of the festival is a competition for poets of all ages who are being invited to submit their creative work for consideration by an independent panel of judges.
Entries are now open for three categories — under-11s, 12 to 18 year-olds and adults.
Those judged to be the best will be published in anthologies covering each of the three age ranges. More details about the festival and how to enter can be found by clicking here.
Read more:
Write-on Ripon open mic evening returns on Thursday
Prolific Ripon author, poet and creative writer Maggie Cobbett will be among those in attendance when the Write-On Ripon open mic event returns on Thursday evening after a short break.
Maggie, one of the city’s best-known authors, told the Stray Ferret:
“Our ‘cavern of creativity’ as we call the cellar area at Curzon Cinema, is proving a great meeting place for all kinds of writers.
“The open mic evenings staged so far have attracted a broad base of talent, from first-time novelists to people seeking a platform to read out work jotted down in a notepad.”
Event organiser, creative writer and the founder of Ripon Spookers, Dion Child, said:
“It’s marvellous to have experienced and published authors like Maggie at our open mic evenings.
“I’m sure that those who are new to writing benefit from her friendly advice, while enjoying listening to her reading out poems and extracts from her books.
“We took a break in June because of the platinum jubilee and I suspect that the sights and sounds of that wonderful four days of celebration in the city will be reflected in some of the pieces that we hear on Thursday.”
The event, at Curzon Cinema on North Street, free to attend and runs from 7.30pm until 10pm
Read more:
- Ripon student wins Oxford University translation prize
- Council re-iterates safety concerns about proposed Ripon art installation
Ripon author’s support for Ukrainian refugees
Ripon’s support for refugees
The generosity of Ripon’s citizens has been seen in many ways across the city, as the community has rallied to the call for help from the people of Ukraine.
Regular collections have been taken by the Rotary Club of Ripon as part of a UK-wide appeal in support of Ukraine.
In a sign of solidarity, the flag of Ukraine continues to fly on Ripon Town Hall
The Magdalens pub on Princess Road has also held two major fundraising events in support of the a gofundme page launched by the Edwards family.
Son Lewis and his Ukrainian partner Tanya Bogdanovska, along with eight friends, set up a shelter in Slovakia in late February to assist refugees and the humanitarian work continues, with money raised in Ripon.
Read more:
A target of £20,000 has been exceeded and Lewis’ mother, Ali Edwards, said :
“We have no further fundraisers planned and would like to thank the many kind-hearted people, whose donations of money, raffle prizes, facilities and time, helped us from day one.”
She pointed out:
“Though Lewis and Tanya are no longer in Slovakia, the programme that they helped to set up, is continuing to support women, children and men over the age of 60 who have been forced to flee Ukraine. “
Write-On Ripon stages second open mic evening
Literature lovers are getting ready for the sequel to Write-On Ripon‘s first open mic evening in February.
The stylish brick-built basement under Curzon Cinema on North Street, will again be the venue for Monday night’s readings of poetry and prose..
Dion Child, who organises the writing group, told the Stray Ferret:
“The first event proved such a success, that we agreed on the night that we would come back for more.
“The 30 people who attended, were able to enjoy the relaxed atmosphere, the great acoustics and the positive audience reaction, to an eclectic mixture of original works.”
Mr Child, himself a creative writer and poet, added:
“I am relatively new to Ripon and am absolutely knocked out by the depth of writing talent that I have seen from people of all ages in this magnificent and inspiring city.
“There is still room for more writers to join us on Monday and whether they want to read a short poem or story they have written, or simply listen to the words of others, all will be given a very warm welcome.”
Write-on Ripon Open Mic II begins at 7.30pm and entry is free. Further details are available here.
Read more:
Harrogate’s top crime-writing prize down to shortlist
Readers have whittled the potential winners of the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year award down to six authors.
Organised by Harrogate International Festivals, the award is widely regarded as the most prestigious in crime fiction.
The shortlist is designed to celebrate the best of crime writing and transports readers around the world from Calcutta to California.
Author Chris Whitaker hopes to claim the trophy on his first ever nomination with We Begin at The End, which is a story of crime, punishment, love and redemption in California.
Sunday Times bestselling author Rosamund Lupton’s Three Hours tells the story of gunmen opening fire on a school in Somerset and explores white supremacy and radicalisation.
Read more:
- Harrogate’s Commercial Street to host dog-friendly day
- More than 200,000 covid vaccines given in Harrogate district
Elly Griffiths is hoping that her seventh prize nomination, The Lantern Men, lead to the title. The story sees Ruth Galloway return to the fens to hunt down a serial killer.
Trevor Wood’s meteoric rise continues with his novel The Man on the Street, which provides insight into the story of a homeless Falklands veteran with severe PTSD turned criminal investigator.
Scottish-Bengali author Abir Mukherjee’s Death in the East is a mesmerising portrait of India, Assam and East End London, which could be a case of third nomination lucky.
The final title on this year’s shortlist is Northern Irish author Brian McGilloway’s The Last Crossing, which looks at The Troubles from the perspective of a view of former operatives.
People can vote for the winner here.
Simon Theakston, executive director of T&R Theakston, said:
“This is it: the crème de la crème of crime. This shortlist really does showcase the breadth and depth of the genre.
“It’s going to be a fiercely fought prize this year so make sure you vote for your favourite.”
The winner receives £3,000 and a handmade, engraved beer barrel from Theakston Old Peculier.
The full shortlist for the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year 2021 is:
- The Lantern Men by Elly Griffiths (Quercus, Quercus Fiction)
- Three Hours by Rosamund Lupton (Penguin Random House UK, Viking)
- The Last Crossing by Brian McGilloway (Little, Brown Book Group, Constable)
- Death in the East by Abir Mukherjee (VINTAGE, Harvill Secker)
- We Begin At The End by Chris Whitaker (Bonnier Books UK, Zaffre)
- The Man on the Street by Trevor Wood (Quercus, Quercus Fiction)