Currently basking in reflected glory, since I’ve recently met two writers whose novels are long-listed for Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year.
Caro Ramsay’s ‘Singing to the Dead’ and Elly Griffiths’ ‘The Crossing Places’ are both great books. Presumably the other eighteen aren’t bad either. Read ‘em and make your choice, ladies and gentlemen. As the good folk in Harrogate say, ‘It’s not just your right. It’s your duty.’
When it’s your job to sit on your own dreaming up imaginary companions, it’s good to get out of the house now and then.
Crimefest was a real tonic - a lively mix of readers, writers and publisher-types, and a rare chance to meet some of Ruso and Tilla’s friends from the States.
Thanks to everyone who saved me from the fate of the splendid Parnell Hall, and thanks to Annie Porthouse, author of ‘Dear Bob’, for the link that reveals his take on every writer’s nightmare:
I’m off to Cheam Library tomorrow evening to join a panel discussing Techno-Crime - the details are here.
Hopefully there will be a good number of folk willing to join in. If not, I’ll have to take up songwriting.
…which is both exciting and unfortunate, because it’s now gone 10pm and I haven’t started packing yet. This is because I foolishly promised the nice editors they would have the revised draft of Ruso 4 before the weekend. I also promised Husband to get several trays of seedlings planted out by the same deadline.
Planting was interrupted by having to move out of the way of a mother starling supervising her fluffy baby while it fluttered round the pond and fell in. Luckily baby starlings can swim.
Having spent several hours of daylight getting muddy, I’ve passed most of the evening staring at a computer screen.
If any of the lovely people reading this are planning to go to Crimefest, please come and say hello. I will be the badly dressed one with the earthy fingernails and bloodshot eyes.
On second thoughts, you may want to slink quietly away.
Thanks very much to everyone who entered the Free Book Draw, and congratulations to Fiona and Rachel, whose names were first out of the hat. Your signed copies of Ruso and Tilla’s third adventure will be arriving shortly!
Last week while I was enjoying a fine lunch arranged by the good folk at Penguin to celebrate the publication of ‘Ruso and the Root of All Evils’, it dawned on me that it would be nice to share the fun.
Leftover lunch didn’t seem like much of an offer, and I wondered if anyone would like the chance of a free book instead. So… signed copies will go to the first two readers whose names come out of the hat and who have correctly answered the not-terribly- taxing questions below.
You don’t need to have read the book yet (that would be pointless, really, wouldn’t it?). All the answers are in the research photos you can find either here on the blog or, for a closer look, under the Photos tab on the Ruso and Tilla Facebook page.
I. Which emperor is the gate named after?
II. Where is the amphitheatre that features in the story?
III. What is the name of the gladiator on the tombstone?
Answers via the box below*, please, by the end of Wednesday 12 May.
(Anyone anywhere is welcome to enter. Winners in the US or Canada will get the American edition, ‘Persona non Grata’, so you won’t have to wince at the spellings.)
*13 May - now removed - it’s too late!
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