This month I visited the Theakston's Old Peculiar Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate for the first time this year, largely because my publishers, SpellBound Books Ltd decided to launch my new book, Hunter's Rules, at the event.
It was not convenient to travel to Harrogate from my village by public transport. it took four trains. (I had a choice - I could have taken five trains!) So by the time I got to Harrogate, I was tired, hot and grumpy. Not a good start. However, when I got to my room in the Cairn Hotel and found was an elegant suite with a four poster bed and a good quality shower, my day began to improve.
The weather was glorious and my room was comfortable then, when the directors of SpellBound, Nikki East and Sumaira Wilson invited me to dinner at The Fat Badger, I was delighted and enjoyed good food in excellent company. I began to look forward to the festival beginning the following day.
The festival began at 3pm on the Thursday so as I had arrived the previous day, I spent the morning and early afternoon catching up with work that needed done. It was a good feeling. Then, when we did wander from our hotel to the Swan Hotel where the festival takes place, we collected our site passes. I was reminded that it was at the Swan Hotel in Harrogate that Agatha Christie was found when she went missing for those famous few days.
I spent the afternoon meeting authors, sitting in the sun and keeping hydrated. It was lovely to meet Vaseem Khan, Bryan Mason, and Louise Swanson (Beech) and to catch up with Craig Robertson and Kate Bendelow again. I also saw Richard Osman but as I was in a taxi driving past him, I decided not to roll down the window and shout!
Friday was the most exciting day. SpellBound had arranged the launch of Hunter's Rules to take place at the Alexandra Pub in Prospect Place, Harrogate. Imagine my delight when friends and fellow authors, Maggie Cobbett, Sally Warr, Joy Wood and Angela Wren had taken the trouble to come to Harrogate and join the fun.
Nikki and Sumaira arranged my books and merchandise into a fantastic display, while informing me my stands were rubbish! Nikki introduced me, and I said a few words about how I started writing fiction and how I came to write Hunter's Rules. It was a lovely event and I even managed to sell some books and pens so that I didn't have to carry them home.
On the Saturday, Nikki and Sumaira treated me to breakfast at The Ivy. It was such a treat. The Ivy is lovely and our meals were delicious. To add to the occasion, Joy Wood and Sally Warr stopped by unexpectedly and were able to join us for coffee.
I had to leave Harrogate on the Saturday afternoon although the Festival didn't finish until Sunday. However, before I left Sumaira, Nikki and I had time with Mik Brown and Jo Turner amongst others.
I had new been to the Harrogate Crime Festival before, and it wasn't exactly what I had expected, but I launched my new book, Hunter's Rules and had a wonderful time in good company and am sure I will attend this unique festival again in the future.
If you haven't got your copy of Hunter's Rules yet you can get it here and on Kindle Unlimited https://tinyurl.com/2s3myb5s
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