Hot on the heels of Thrillerfest and Bodies in the Bookshop, I had the honour of attending The Olde Peculier Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate, Yorkshire, alongside such luminaries of our genre as Mark Billingham, Val McDermid, Lee Child, George Pelecanos, Peter James, Laura Wilson, Simon Kernick and many, many more top authors.
The event was held at the beautiful Crown Hotel in an amazingly beautiful town - it shamed me that I'd never visited before having by-passed it on numerous occasions in the past on journeys south.
The high-lights for me were in catching up with old friends Sheila Quigley, Yrsa Sigurdardottir and Ole, Ali Karim, Zoe Sharpe, Lee Child, Andrew Grant and meeting and making new friends in Ken McCoy, Russel McLean and the various people who introduced themselves to me as readers who'd loved my debut book. A special shout to the DS from GMP - you know who you are - your enthusiasm and commitment to kick-staring your writing career had a profound effect on me and I'm truly glad i had an influence on you.
I hosted a table at the Saturday night dinner and was glad to be surrounded by readers and aspiring authors who made the event memorable. Thanks for all the questions and for actually listeneing to my answers, hope I helped in some way. We even figured out the murderer and his motive for the heinous crime. We were a good bunch of detectives, I guess.
Hi to Wendy from Waterstones who was a real gem.
Thanks to Suzie Doore and Kelly edgson-Wright from Hodder and Stoughton for the lovely meal on friday.
Thanks also to Selina Walker for the invaluable advice.
It was a superb event all round and well worth any aspiring crime author - or even reader - adding it to their must attend list. I'm definitely going back next year - if they want me. (Hint, hint).
17 comments:
I wish I was working for the tax office this year Matt, Wondering what had happened to your tools and clothing allowance etc. One year your personalised pepper-spray holder and customised cuff-purse-thingy, the next a receipt for wining and dining the famous.
Me and the tax man aren't the best of buddies at present. My advance will be only one third of what was quoted once the tax man, the VAT man and the NI man take their share. Goddamn it!
You'll never quote manage to spread your legs wide enough for the taxman to get his full kick in. You may wanna look at tax enviroments, not tax havens etc, but places that don't tear a ball off then charge you the fee for the new one and then tax you on the new ball and the cotton that stitched it.
What's this tax you speak of?
Matt is a living, breathing example of what can happen to a writer who bashes away on the old keyboard...and now the new one.
That's great you had so much fun and connected with some awesome people! That always makes trips go well.
Great to finally meet you Matt - looking forward to book 2 and i think we should start on online discussion on who would have won in a fight between Joe Hunter and Rambo...
BIG RESPECT to John Rambo - he's the Daddy - but he's getting old now, so I think Hunter would edge it in a stand-up, drag 'em out brawl. I'm guessing that Hunter would have too much respect for the man though and would prefer to buy him a drink!
Anyone for another fantasy brawl? You must give your rasons for who would win a Hunter Vs ? showdown.
By the way, it was great meeting you, too, Amit. Finally putting a face to someone I feel like I already knew.
(I'm still chuckling about that bloke who mistook you for someone else. The look on his face was classic!)
Hi sara, it really was a great convention. very enjoyable - and to be around my literary heroes was awesome!
My Hoodie Hunter v Joe Hunter. Now then, would using his Glock be cheating I wonder?
'Hunter versus Hunter' sounds like a top film title!
Hee-hee!
Imagine this...Matt as an eleven year old, going to the cinema to see King Kong Vs Godzilla, Godzilla Vs Mothra, Gamera Vs Jiger, Godzilla Vs Mecha-Kong, Godzilla Vs The Smog Monster, then flaming Kramer Vs Kramer!!!
True story.
Now then Matt, we're going to have to fall about this. Much as i love Joe Hunter, John Rambo would only be taken out by the terminator, and thats only because the terminator has metal balls...
I think a fairer fight would be between Joe and John Matrix aka Arnie in the Commando movie... but even then it would be a close call. To back up my arguement, John Rambo, single handedly went into Afganistan in the 3rd movie, destroyed the entire army and beat them at football while riding on a horse! Should Joe Hunter in the 2nd or even 3rd book, parachaute into Russia, dismantle a nuclear bomb while performing kick-ups with a rugby ball - the debate can begin again...sorry pal...John Rambo 1...Joe Hunter 0.5
Over to you...
And yes, it was amusing to be mistaken for Ali Karim? Actually had you not been there, i might have gone along with it...seen where it got me. Should the real Ali have turned up i could have screamed IMPOSTER at him and watched as he was escorted from the building. Shit, i missed my chance at stardom (Who is this Ali guy anyway..is it in my interest to be mistaken for him?)...
My mother always said having brown skin would see me right in the end...perhaps that was my chance!....
Ali Karim is a very nice guy and also an influential and very knowledgeable reader and reviewer of crime and thriller books. He writes regularly for Shots, The Rap Sheet, January Magazine and his own site Existential Man, among many others. He's also a judge for ITW and is a regular at all the major crime fests. To be mistaken for him is great really. Everyone who is 'in the scene' wants Ali as a friend.Not just for his connections, but that he's a very nice guy.
By the way, having watched the latest RAMBO, the 'old guy' can still kick up a storm. Maybe Hunter would need a little hand from his sidekick, Rink, to do the ol' devil. But I still stand on the fact Hunter would prefer Rambo as a friend than an enemy.
Matrix, schmatrix! Hunter would kick his butt. But 'Dwight' from the Predator could prove a handful. (Arnie's best/toughest soldier role to date IMHO). Dunno about Conan the Barbarian though.
(Produced with the permission of Mr. Hilton!)
HUNTER: I’ve heard a lot about you; people say you’re the second best assassin in America.
RAMBO: Funny, I’ve heard that about you.
HUNTER: For me, this is personal, you need to step aside, Cain and I have unfinished business…
RAMBO: You had your chance. I’ve never missed a target.
HUNTER: Don’t make me go through you, to get to Cain.
RAMBO: I was hunting criminals before you were born. I don’t give second chances…
HUNTER: I hoped we could be friends…
RAMBO: I don’t have any friends.
HUNTER: You leave me no choice then…
RAMBO: Just walk away. I don’t need your blood on my hands.
HUNTER: You misunderstand. I’ll leave Cain to end your legacy. But I promise, I’ll avenge your death.
(Produced without the permission of Mr Hilton - he's a black belt - EEEK!!!)
Cornered, Hunter's eyes flickered towards the Sig Sauer in his pocket and he instantly knew the old man knew, too.
Harry's husky tones kicked in with a stony stare. 'Feeling lucky, Hunter?' he spat, raising the impressive .44 Magnum.
Hunter, in turn, whipped out the Sig in a blink. 'Leave it old timer,' said Hunter coolly, regaining control.
Harry eyeballed the new kid unflinchingly. 'Go ahead, make my day, punk.'
Now then Col, that is awesome mate! Laughing my ass off. Dirty Harry vs. Hunter, who'd have thought! Matt, i think there is a new section of fan fiction worth having on your website...
Loving it...
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