My first full day at the weekend of the year and what a day! Just walking up to the venue itself, The Old Swan Hotel, fills me with giddy anticipation.
The Old Swan is the perfect place to hold the four day event as it is the very hotel, that in 1926, Agatha Christie was found in after going missing eleven days previously and sparking a massive manhunt.
The first thing I did on arrival was collect my complimentary goodie bag, which was filled with books, two note pads, several bookmarks (which are always handy as I always seem to lose mine) and a bottle of Theakstons Old Peculiar. I’m thrilled with the books in my bag. Each bag is different so it’s quite the lottery.
There were panels running constantly throughout the day. I didn’t go in to all of them. I think it would have been brain overload for me had I done so, but instead, opted out of a couple to chat to the great company I was keeping in the bar area. This crime festival has to be one of the friendliest places I have ever been to. Seriously, whomever you find yourself at the side of, a conversation can be struck up and genuine interest in each other is displayed!
As for the panels, there are two in particular that deserve their own blog posts, so I will do just that. These were, a panel on E-books and another on, Is there a line not to be crossed when writing crime fiction? Both very interesting and mixed opinions which will be interesting to see commented on in their respective posts.
The highlight of my day on Friday was the panel with Ryan David Jahn on and being able to get his latest book signed. I raved about his book, The Dispatcher on the blog in its former life. It has to be the book that has stuck with me most this year. As a writer, I’d love to know someone had loved my work so much, but stood at the other side of the signing table telling him this, I just felt like some nutty stalker woman!
Another brilliant, but exhausting day at Theakstons Old Peculiar Crime Writing Festival Harrogate.
Rebecca, it sounds great. I am really looking forward to your write up about the panel on eBooks. And you are right the venue sounds perfect with that heritage ; )
Hopefully that post will come later this week 🙂
What a wonderful experience, Rebecca. Heavenly for any crime reader & writer. I’m loving these posts. Keep them coming (if you can)!
Unfortunately I did fail on the last evening. I was shattered!
That hotel looks lovely. (Still jealous, by the way, it’s not passing lol) I’m looking forward to the e-book post – I was hoping you’d do that when I read your last mention of it!
I should have that post up later this week 🙂
Rebecca – It sounds as though you’re having a wonderful time! Thanks for sharing. That goodie bag looks terrific by the way.
It was fantastic. I think I came away with 10 books in total this weekend!
Ahh, you’re just down the road from me! I always fancy the crime festival but tend to be away or not able to justify it when I don’t write crime fiction. But it always gets a good write up and you sound like you’re having a fantastic time. That goody bag alone is very appealing! The hotel is where we stayed for my hen night (a pure coincidence, way before living here was even a figment of my imagination) and we went to a murder mystery night there on one of the nights – very fitting! I look forward to hearing more about it. Enjoy!
It really is a great location for the event. Saying that, Harrogate is a beautiful place anyway. The event isn’t just for crime writers, if you read and enjoy crime fiction, you will enjoy the event. Lots of different people there, writers, publishers, agents, booksellers, bloggers and readers. A great weekend that I’m sure you would love.