I had the most amazing time at the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival last week. I cannot believe it’s been over a week since the jam-packed weekend which will for sure become a staple in my calendar each year – if my purse will allow.
I documented it over on my blog, YouTube and Instagram, but am still figuring out what to share where - that will come with time.
Across the 4 days (officially 3, but an extra for the writers’ workshop I attended), I got to mingle with authors, budding authors, agents, publishers and book lovers like me, to experience and share our love of crime fiction. It’s one of the crème de la crème events in publishing and crime writing, where it seemed everyone was there – including Richard Osman!
Best of all, I got to meet my favourite crime author: TM Logan!
Stupidly, I was a bit starstruck to have met someone who got me into crime fiction, but also inspired me to pen my own novel. Simply, I told him I loved his books and had a great chat with him too. He even remembered me the following day at a book signing after hosting a session with Louise Candlish and Shari Lapena, who also signed my books, as well as Claire Douglas and CL Taylor who have also crept onto my TBR list.
The post-event blues are real. The rain, early get-ups and late nights didn’t get me down in the slightest, where I found myself feeling very low as soon as I left the buzzing town of Harrogate and its wonderful festival at the Old Swan Hotel.
Also, would you believe, despite my adamance that I wouldn’t be able to pen any words down, I found myself writing a few pages of my crime novel – more so than I’ve done for a few weeks! The sessions made me feel so inspired and creative.
Thankfully I have some time off in the next couple of weeks. They’re rather needed after a few teary days of questioning many things and just needing a break – I think we all get like that!
Let’s hope I can get around to reading more books, writing some more of my own, exploring more of the UK and countryside, and just taking some time to relax.
Currently, I’m reading ‘So Lucky’ by Dawn O’Porter – it’s a hoot! It follows the lives of 3 women just trying to do their best. I may even have finished it by the time this post is live!
Until next time. See you in August xx