So the brilliant crime writers at Killer Women are having their very first festival on Saturday 15th October – it is going to be a rocking day and you can pick up a ticket HERE.
Welcome to Part Two of my trawl around the authorscape to find out more about those you can see at the festival – I’ve been working VERY hard I’ll have you know, abseiling down cliffs and things to track them down. Or I’ve just done it all from the comfort of home but the other one sounds better….
If you missed Part One you can find it if you clickety click.
The full line up can be found HERE but today we are hearing from Sarah Hilary, Chris Whitaker and Sam Eades…
See? Already things are looking even BETTER than when I did part one…
I’ve just finished a big round of edits on Quieter Than Killing which is coming out in March 2017. It’s the fourth in my Marnie Rome series, and centres around a series of violent vigilante attacks in London during a very cold spell of winter. It also uncovers a new layer of deceit and secrets between Marnie and her murderous foster brother, Stephen.
What is the last book you read and would you recommend it?
Good Me Bad Me by Ali Land, a terrific debut that’s coming out in January, with a genuinely fresh and creepy take on the serial killer trope.
What will you be doing and talking about at the Killer Women Festival?
I’m chairing the Fresh Blood panel with four authors whose crime debuts came out recently. I’m really looking forward to chatting with them about the books and their experience of being published.
Who is your hero/heroine, fictional or otherwise, and why?
My grandmother, who survived a Japanese PoW camp with her humour and compassion intact.
Tell us two random non-bookish facts about you …
I love horror and regularly sneaked into 18-certificate films with my friends when we were, um, not eighteen. Oh and I don’t find clowns remotely scary (sorry).
Tell us a little about your latest novel and what readers can expect from it?
Tall Oaks follows the residents of a small town in America three months after the abduction of a child. It’s as much a story about the characters that make up the town as it is the police investigation that links them. As a reader you can expect a snapshot of life in Tall Oaks over one summer, a glimpse into the lives of characters with quite different concerns, some of them humorous, some of them tragic. You definitely shouldn’t expect a straight crime novel!
What is the last book you read and would you recommend it?
The Road by Cormac McCarthy. I’ve read it before and it’s a book I turn to for inspiration when I’m going through a difficult writing phase. It reminds me just how powerful the written word can be. It’s a masterpiece, and makes me want to raise my game.
What will you be doing and talking about at the Killer Women Festival?
I’m very excited to be on Sarah Hilary’s Fresh Blood Panel, and I’ll be talking about my road to publication. It’s my first ever panel so I asked my writer friend Rod Reynolds how best to prepare. He told me that you’re normally expected to perform a short dance routine (in the style of your novel) which I’ve found quite tricky to perfect. I just hope my acorn costume is ready in time, otherwise I’m going to look pretty stupid.
After my panel I’m really looking forward to the Killer Women Quiz, hosted by the awesome Simon Booker.
Who is your hero/heroine, fictional or otherwise, and why?
Amy Dunne. I really loved Gone Girl, and Amy is the most fascinating femme fatale I’ve ever come across. I know she’s a bit scary/a sociopath, but I love rooting for the bad guy/girl, and I really wanted her to get away with it all!
Tell us two random non-bookish facts about you …
I moved my family to Marbella for a year, where my landlord was the guy that threw a bottle of wee over Rogue Traders presenter Matt Allwright. I made sure to always pay the rent on time.
I once danced for Patrick Swayze, and he made fun of my moves, like his were any better.
What is the last book you read and would you recommend it?
When I’m not reading submissions, crime fiction is my go to genre. Three recent novels I’ve enjoyed are LIE WITH ME by Sabine Durrant (Ripleyesque), THE WOMAN IN CABIN 10 by Ruth Ware (locked room mystery) and I SEE YOU by Clare Mackintosh (twisty as f*ck). My most recent read is a bit of a guilty pleasure. I’m reading the Rutshire Chronicles series from Jilly Cooper! I’ve finished RIDERS and am halfway through RIVALS. They are so enjoyable, and written with warmth and skill. I love the way she moves her editorial eye over a large cast of characters, and deftly juggles their storylines (and their love lives!).
What will you be doing and talking about at the Killer Women Festival?
I’m pairing up with Nelle Andrews, Agent Extraordinaire for the How to Pitch a Novel panel. Apparently we are sharing the secrets of bestsellers… I’m going to listen to Nelle and nod quite a lot. We will be talking about the importance of a good two line pitch, of knowing where your book sits in the market and how to hook an agent and an editor.
Who is your hero/heroine, fictional or otherwise, and why?
Harry Hole from Jo Nesbo’s books. I love him for his flaws, dogged determination and the darkness that lurks between the surface.
Tell us two random non-bookish facts about you …
One I can’t ride a bike.
Two and I’m cheating as it is bookish – I have been on tour with Hercule Poirot! Well… David Suchet. It was a dream come true.
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Happy Reading!
