A Life of Crime by Ann Evans
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| Theakston Old Peculiar Crime Fest |
Over the last few
months, there's been something on my mind that's not totally
wholesome – crime! No, I'm not about to commit any dastardly deed,
I'm talking about crime writing.
I know we're
Author's Electric, but I hope you'll forgive me for talking about my
latest book, a crime thriller published by Bloodhound Books.
I wrote
Kill or Die (under a different title) some years ago. I sent
it off to a couple of publishers, who rejected it for very different
reasons. One said it was too graphic and gory, the other said it
wasn't graphic enough for a crime novel. So what did I do? Put it
away in a drawer and forgot all about it.
A couple of years
ago I came across it again, and noticed a handwritten comment on the
front page from a reader who had said they liked my style.
Encouraged, I read through it again myself, and decided it wasn't too
bad. So I re-worked and re-wrote and then eventually sent it out.
The first publisher I sent it to wanted to publish it, however they
turned out to be bogus – and the whole situation was really
traumatic. Once I'd extricated myself from their clutches, I tried
again. This time I struck gold, with an English publisher called
Bloodhound Books, who have been brilliant to work with.
Really getting into
the crime scene, I booked to attend the Theakston Old Peculiar Crime
Writing Festival at Harrogate in July. It was four days of author
talks, author panels, networking and socialising – oh yes, and
eating and drinking!
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| Meeting Lee Child |
It was loads of fun,
and I came back buzzing with inspiration. Amongst the highlights for
me were meeting up with my publisher and some of the other Bloodhound
authors, and meeting Lee Child of Jack Reacher fame.
What a lovely
man!! He mingled with the visitors throughout the festival and was
happy to chat to one and all.
There was also a really
fun evening also when comic Sarah Millican hosted a 'chat show' panel
with Lee Child, Val McDermid and Mark Billingham. It was so funny as
she asked the sort of personal questions no other mortal would have
had the nerve to ask.
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| Ann and Francis Pryor |
Another special event was the Author Dinner where every table had its own well known crime writer,
and we had Francis Pryor of Time Team fame. The evening
included a Murder Mystery where we had to figure out who the murderer was – and why.
While one of the
daytime events was a 'Could you be a Detective' session with 'Think
Forensic' who are real forensic detectives, who talked about the
things they search for when faced with a crime scene.
They also run
workshops throughout the year, so if you ever need some forensic
advice for a book you're working on, they are the people to call.
(www.thinkforensic.co.uk)
Since being with
Bloodhound, I've read lots of other author's crime novels, and I'm
really getting a taste for psychological thrillers and detective
books. So much so that I've joined the Crime Writers' Association, so
chances are, I'll be heading off to some other crime writing
workshops and festivals before too long.
What's your
favourite genre for writing and reading?
Kill
or Die (ISBN 978-1912175147)is available from all good book stores in
paperback and Kindle.
Follow
me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/annevansauthor
Blog:
http://annsawriter.blogspot.co.uk/
Website: http://www.annevansbooks.co.uk
Comments
Chris, I will try the Bristol event, perhaps next year. The Scottish events sound good. There's such a choice, isn't there. You're so right about crime writers being a really friendly bunch, I've been so surprised at how lovely all the crime writers that I've met so far are. I've just been accepted into the CWA, so need to get my head round all the things that go on there. And at some point try and write another crime novel. :)