2:00pm Thursday 28th May 2009
By Adrian Mullen
TOP selling author John Connolly is one of several leading wordsmiths taking part in a banquet of book-based events staged at libraries around the region.
The Dublin-based writer whose first novel, Every Dead Thing, was published in 1999, and introduced the character of Charlie Parker, a former policeman hunting the killer of his wife and daughter, will appear at Kendal Library on Saturday, July 18, at 7pm.
As well as John’s appearance Helen Towers, the reading promotions and stock co-ordinator for Cumbria County Council Libraries, has put together one of the most ambitious and adventurous series of literary library events to date - a Mid-Summer Murder Crime Writing Festival, staged at libraries across Cumbria.
Helen told me that having just one-off reader days at a particulary library was limiting so spreading the events across the county helped more people to see and hear top class authors: “Publishers have also realised that libraries can generate a good audience for their writers, which in turn can generate sales.”
Featured will be RJ Ellory, the author of six novels, including the best selling A Quiet Belief in Angels, which was a Richard and Judy Book Club selection in 2008. RJ will be appearing at 12 libraries around the county, including on Wednesday, June 17, Ambleside Library (3.30pm) and Grange-over-Sands Library (7.30pm), and the day after (June 18) at Ulverston Library (10.30am), Barrow Library (2pm), and Kendal Library (7.30pm).
Sophie Hannah is a bestselling poet and an award-winning short story writer as well as being the author of psychological thrillers. She is appearing with former police officer and security expert, turned writer, Matt Hilton, whose novel Dead Men’s Dust was published in May, at Carlisle Library on June 4, at 7.30pm.
Diane James is a full time author, living in Cumbria. Her first book Edwardian Murder: Ightham and the Morpeth Train Robbery delves into the real life murder of Caroline Luard, a Cumbrian woman, shot in Kent in the summer of 1908, and its alleged links with a second murder some 18 months later. Diane also writes fiction and will be appearing at Windermere Library on June 23 (7pm); Appleby Library on June 24 (10.30am), and at Kendal Library on June 25 (7pm).
In Martin Edwards’ latest book, Dancing for the Hangman, he reopens the file on one of the most notorious and fascinating cases in criminal history - Dr Hawley Crippen’s conviction for the murder of his wife Cora. He will be talking about The Life and Times of Dr Crippen at Kendal Library on June 26, at 2pm, then presenting a Victorian Murder Mystery evening at Carlisle Library at 7pm the same day.
Ann Cleeves is a prolific crime writer well-known for her series of books, featuring Inspector Stephen Ramsey, as well as her stand alone psychological suspense novels. Ann is appearing at Carlisle Library on Tuesday, June 16, at 7.30pm.
Clive Ashman’s Mosaic - The Pavement that Walked is his first complete novel to be published and is built around the biggest unsolved crime in Romano-British archaeology. Clive will be appearing at Maryport Library on June 8 (7pm) and at Carlisle Library on June 9, at 7.30pm.
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