Press release: Killer Line up for 2019 Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival 18 - 21st July 2019
The Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival unveiled its 2019 programme at an exclusive launch party at Browns Courtrooms in London (Wed April 3, 6.30pm).
Chair of the 2019 Programming Committee, Mari Hannah, unveiled a packed line-up for the world’s most celebrated crime writing festival, with authors ‘in conversation’, in action and in the bar.
Now in its 17th year, the festival takes place at Agatha Christie’s old haunt, The Old Swan Hotel in Harrogate from 18 to 21 July.
Mari Hannah, award-winning author and festival reader-in-residence said: “The Theakston programming committee has a reputation for attracting the finest crime writers to the festival from around the world and we’ve done it again. The response to this year’s line-up has been incredible. I’m looking forward to welcoming readers in July.”
Special Guests are James Patterson, MC Beaton, Stuart MacBride, Jeffery Deaver, Belinda Bauer, Eva Dolan, Erin Kelly, Harlan Coben, Ian Rankin and Val McDermid, who will be in conversation with Scotland’s First Minister and bookworm, Nicola Sturgeon.
Jo Nesbo will also launch his much anticipated new Harry Hole thriller, Knife, at the festival. A special TV panel will feature Jed Mercurio, author of BBC smash-hit, The Bodyguard.
Simon Theakston, Executive Director of T&R Theakston and title sponsor, said: “Our celebration of the genre is no doubt the best in the world. 2019 is another remarkable line-up and it is a huge privilege to welcome one of the world’s biggest selling authors, James Patterson, a remarkable advocate for reading who has donated millions to reading initiatives in schools, colleges and libraries.”
Serving up its usual helping of heated debate, panels will look at Irish fiction exploring borders and Brexit, the rise
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| Credit Rankin |
Up to 90 authors from around the world will take part. The diverse roll call includes Australia’s hottest author Jane Harper, Jackson Lamb creator Mick Herron, Scotland’s supernova Denise Mina, and Alex North, the pseudonym behind The Whisper Man pitched as 2019’s biggest thriller.
The line-up includes Renee Knight, Stuart Neville, Stella Duffy, Brian McGilloway, Steve Cavanagh, Mark Billingham, Chris Brookmyre, AA Dhand, Joseph Knox, Robert Crais, Elly Griffiths, Sarah Hilary, Imran Mahmood, Martyn Waites and Jonathan Freedland aka Sam Bourne.
Val McDermid’s annual New Blood panel, one of the most anticipated events in publishing, features four hand-picked debuts from the Queen of Crime. 2019 picks are Gytha Lodge’s She Lies in Wait, Holly Watt’s with To the Lions, Chris Hammer’s Scrublands, and Oyinkan Braithwaite’s My Sister the Serial Killer.
The opening night features the crime writing equivalent of The Oscars, with the 15th Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award. Hosted by Mark Lawson, the Award is in association with sponsor T&R Theakston Ltd, retail partner WHSmith, and media partner, the Mail on Sunday. The ceremony will also honour a giant of the genre with the Outstanding Contribution to Crime Fiction Award - previous recipients include PD James, Ruth Rendell, Lee Child and John Grisham.
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| Credit Mike Whorley |
The day-long writing workshop, Creative Thursday also returns. The festival, delivered by the north’s leading arts organisation Harrogate International Festivals, is one of the most important events in the crime publishing calendar. Agents, publishers, publicists, readers and authors attend from all over Europe and the world.
Famed for its no barriers approach, crime fiction fans, fledgling writers and established superstar authors mingle in the hotel bar, bookshop and Papakåta tents in the hotel grounds. Tickets for all events go on sale 9 April.
Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival
The Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival is Europe’s largest event dedicated to the celebration of crime fiction. Taking place annually over four days each July (18-21 July, 2019) at the Old Swan Hotel in Harrogate, the Festival programmes up to 90 best-selling UK and international crime authors and over 30 events. It is delivered by the north of England’s leading arts festival organisation, Harrogate International Festivals.
The event features the prestigious Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award.
About Mari Hannah
Mari Hannah is an award-winning author who became a writer after her career as a Probation Officer was cut
short following an assault on duty. For several years, Mari was a scriptwriter with an eye on a career in film or TV. This took off after pitching a crime pilot to the BBC based on the characters in her then unfinished debut novel The Murder Wall, winning a place on the BBC’s North East Voices Drama Development Scheme, adapting the script to a crime novel when it ended.
That award-winning Kate Daniels title and seven others were published by Pan Macmillan before she moved to Orion in 2017. Mari’s ninth book The Lost, the first in a series featuring DI David Stone and DS Frankie Oliver, was published in the spring of 2018. The tenth – The Insider – followed in November. Her third Stone & Oliver novel, The Scandal, was published on March 7, 2019.
T & R Theakston Ltd
Title sponsor of the Festival since 2005, Theakston Old Peculier ale is produced by T & R Theakston Ltd. It is one of the country’s most famous and highly regarded traditional ale brewers.
Theakston was established in Masham, North Yorkshire in 1827 by Robert Theakston. After a brief period in the 1980s when the company was acquired by Scottish & Newcastle plc, the company has been back under family ownership since autumn 2003. It now operates as an independent brewer producing five permanent brands in the Theakston range including the iconic Old Peculier – its best-known beer with a rich, dark flavour, celebrated by ale enthusiasts all over Britain and around the world.
What folk say about the Crime Festival
“Takes the good name of Harrogate around the world in a way no amount of advertising could achieve” – The Guardian
“The biggest event devoted to crime fiction in Europe… Harrogate fosters a special intimacy between writers and readers; you see a different, more personal side to the authors… In short, a weekend that combines first-class entertainment with stimulation of the little grey cells. What better tribute could Dame Agatha’s many literary descendants pay to her shade?” – The Telegraph
“Harrogate has an extensive literary festival programme but the jewel in its crown is the crime festival. Known as being particularly friendly, and particularly drunken, the biggest crime writers will descend on the town for one weekend for pints, debates and panel events.” – Elle magazine
“Some crime festivals keep the writers away from the readers. But at Harrogate all the writers are there in the bar and readers can approach them… The panel sessions and guest interviews are packed with insight and intelligence.” – Val McDermid, author
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| Credit Mike Whorley |
“It’s the best festival in the world and all the big-name writers clear their diaries and want to be there. It’s just so well run, and the difference with other festivals is that the writers and the readers aren’t kept apart.” – Mark Billingham, author
“Parties! Readers! Authors! What a great Festival – can’t wait to go back!” – Harlan Coben, author
“Harrogate is a must. With beautiful locale, smart panels and superb author interaction, it’s one of the best festivals I’ve ever attended” – Michael Connelly, author
“The US has Bouchercon, and the UK, Europe and Scandinavia have Harrogate…it’s every bit as good, and it’s about the only reason I willingly return to the old country…” – Lee Child, author
“The Festival has launched many literary careers, boosted others and introduced the joy of reading to thousands” – Jane Gregory, Literary Agent
“The spectacular Harrogate Festival is a must-go Festival for everyone who loves crime fiction. Harrogate is friendly, intimate and best of all – it’s in England. I loved it, you will too.” – Robert Crais, author
“Harrogate is my favourite literary festival. A charming relaxed atmosphere and interesting literary events with some of the brightest talents in the crime fiction field. A treat for writers and fans alike.” – George Pelecanos, author
“Harrogate was so much fun and, without a doubt, one of the best Festivals I have ever attended.” – Peter Robinson, author
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