THURSDAY

‘Am I busy?’ everyone asks me, and the short answer has to be no. Much of the day is shrouded in a kind of weird restless calm before the authors, agents, publishers and fans storm Harrogate for the sixth annual Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival.

I open the festival itself by introducing ‘Creative Thursday’, which is an opportunity for would-be writers to get advice from authors and publishing professionals, and then in the evening, there’s the Crime Novel of the Year awards ceremony. Eight of the shortlisted authors, including myself, sit together on stage to talk briefly about our books before the winner is announced. It’s a tough field, with some of the top names in British crime writing vying for the award. Simon Theakston, Executive Director of T&R Theakston (who have been the generous and supportive sponsors of the Harrogate Crime Writing Festival for six years now) presents the award. Stef Penney deservedly wins for The Tenderness of Wolves, and we remain on stage to congratulate her Oscars-style, which is remarkably civilised, especially when you consider we’re crime writers. You’d have thought at least one of us would have tried to steal it from her.

The ceremony over, it’s time for the Festival opening party. No crises as yet, but plenty of opportunity for that.

FRIDAY

I open the first author event, interviewing Special Guest Peter Robinson. Peter, a local boy now international bestseller of the Inspector Banks series is a friendly, engaging guy and we have a very enjoyable chat about his books. It just so happens to be in front of nearly 500 people.

As we stroll out of the lecture theatre, I realise why it is taking me so long to leave the room. The on-site Waterstone’s store is heaving. Peter’s fans have the opportunity to get an exclusive signed early copy of the new Banks novel, All the Colours of Darkness, and it looks like most are taking advantage.

I’m relieved that the first event is a success and the festival is finally underway.

Next up, is a launch party for my new novel Deadline. It’s well attended, thank God, as most parties where the booze is free generally are, but kept short, so it doesn’t interfere with the afternoon’s panels, where the big questions in crime writing are discussed by a variety of authors from across the genre.

Is James Bond still relevant in the twenty-first century? Charlie Higson et al wrestle with that one in the afternoon. As an avid fan, I was pleased they decided he was.

Mark Lawson hosts the evening’s proceedings, first an interview with the charming Robert Crais, who appears to have a penchant for Hawaiian shirts. Clearly, dreary Harrogate rain won’t dampen the style of someone who has written for Miami Vice. Then the balloon game, where a motley crew of current crime writers representing deceased counterparts, have to justify to Mark and the audiences why they should be the last one standing and the King, or Queen, of their genre.

After plenty of laughs, Mark Billingham representing Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, comes out on top, but then as a former full-time stand-up comedian, he was always going to have an advantage.

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