PD Martin at Ashburton Library

If you missed the author talk by PD Martin at Ashburton Library, here's an update!

Philipa asks the audience which cover they prefer.

PD (also known as Philipa) started her path to writing through singing and writing songs.  Then she wrote her first book and sent it off to a publisher.  While it didn't get published she kept writing and writing, each book getting better and better.  Finally, she hit gold with Body count.  The main character, Sophie Anderson, starred in five more books!

Philipa's book shelf is full of 'not very nice' books - on murder, dead bodies, serial killers. She has received some fantastic advice from a friend on where to dump bodies in Los Angeles for her book The Killing Hands.   Even so, she had almost finished writing it and even she didn't know who the murderer was!

Body count was based on a real nightmare that PD kept having.  She has interviewed real life vampires for an article she wrote in the Sydney Morning Herald.  Philippa loves the ebook world - she says it's great for authors and readers alike.  

Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival

Old Swan Hotel Harrogate 21-24 July 2011 I'm having such a great time here with hundreds of other crime fiction tragics, despite quite severe jet lag which I don't remember having last time I travelled to the UK although admittedly that was about 25 years ago.....I was much younger, fitter etc.
The festival kicked off with the Crime Novel of the year award and festival opening party, for me the highlight was the presentation of the Outstanding Contribution to Crime Fiction Award to
P D James, what a gorgeous woman, 90 years old and delightful. She was thrilled to be here and to accept the award and she promised that from now on Adam Dagliesh, her renowned detective, would only drink Theakston's ale {festival sponsor}. Lee Child followed her to accept the Crime Novel of the Year for 61 hours, he was unprepared as despite selling 50 million books he hasn't won an award for ages but said that what he will remember most is following P D James onto the stage.
I'll keep you posted on hightlights from the sessions www.harrogate-festival.org.uk/crime