If you were staying at the Bristol Marriott Hotel over the
weekend, you could be forgiven for thinking you were a delegate at a Star Wars
convention, such were the throngs of people bustling through the hotel, each
armed with name badges and looking wildly enthusiastic. But it wasn’t Star
Wars, it was Crimefest, the international crime fiction convention held in
Bristol every May.
With record numbers this year, the festival attracted writers,
readers, editors, agents, publishers and bloggers from all over the globe, and
with a strong Irish contingent, it has become a date for the diary.
‘Crimefest is an event where I can have breakfast with an Australia author, coffee with an American reader, and at the Gala Dinner, present an award to a Scandinavian writer,’ says Sarah Ward, one of the judges of the Petrona Award. ‘It’s the highlight of my crime fiction year.’
But what actually happens at this festival over four days in
May? You have the headline acts, internationally acclaimed writers like Ian
Rankin, Anne Holt, Peter James and Hugh Fraser, all willing to share nuggets of
their writing process and success, and also happy to chat with delegates during
panel intervals, while copious amounts of tea and coffee are drunk.
(Ian Rankin with Patricia Gibney)
Ayo Onatade, Special
Crime Reporter at Shots Ezine and associate member of The Crime Writers
Association (CWA), puts the success of the convention down to the laid back and
fun approach, as well as the panels being well organised. ‘It’s often difficult
to decide which panel to attend. Everyone enjoys themselves and there is no
demarcation between authors that are taking part, readers, fans, and bloggers
who are there. It’s not elitist.’
And that’s the thing about Crimefest that makes it different.
You could be chatting to a fellow writer or friend one moment, then find
yourself talking all things crime fiction with publishers, agents and editors
from around the world, and there are plenty of buzzing conversations with the
sharing of contact details - another reason why so many delegates visit each year.
Author C. L. Taylor, familiar to many Irish readers agrees,
describing Crimefest as an opportunity to connect with readers and her crime
tribe. ‘Many of my friends live hundreds of miles away and it’s
often the only chance I get to see them.’
But outside of the many conversations between readers, writers
and publishing folk, lots happen here other than panels and headline acts.
Along with panels covering everything from Creating Complex Characters to the
Psychology of Thrills, there are workshops, quizzes, pitching an agent slots,
and one off events - including the re-enactment of the Steve Avery trial
(Making a Murder), with Irish author and lawyer, Steve Cavanagh, and Sophie
Hannah as Judge.
The Crimefest Awards saw Stephen King, Ian Rankin, Paula
Hawkins, Robert Galbraith and Linwood Barclay, compete for victory, whilst the
longlists for the CWA Dagger Awards were also announced at the festival. Among
them were Irish writers, John Connolly, Jax Miller, Adrian McKinty, William
Shaw and yours truly.
Dublin-based crime authors, Paul Perry and Karen Gillece,
writing under the pen name, Karen Perry, were both panel members and
moderators. Paul says, ‘Crimefest is a great festival where crime writers from
around the world meet. Karen and I were on a panel on Thursday called Writing
Duos: How Not To Come To Blows When You’re Both Writing The Same Book. Then on
Saturday, I moderated Sending Shivers Down The Spine with A.K. Benedict, Jenny
Blackhurst, Mason Cross and Kate Ellis. I loved the easy going atmosphere, with
time to discuss and share a love of crime writing.’
However, you can’t discuss Crimefest without talking about
Bristol. A city, ranked fifth in the U.K., with its riverside cafes and bars,
weekend markets and buzzing atmosphere (even on rainy afternoons). It has an
appeal all of its own. As crime fiction enthusiasts gathered on the stone steps
of the Marriot, amid stunning architecture and cathedrals, with the waterfront
only metres away, teenagers played on skateboards in the communal areas, and
you got the feeling you were in a city comfortable with itself. Early Banksy
art can also be found in the city of his birth, pieces created when he was seen
as another kid with a can of spray paint in his hand.
So whether you sign up for a one-day or full weekend pass at
Crimefest, you will be transported into a hub of crime fiction, together with
festival goody bag and mock syringe pen. Last word of advice, if the popularity
of this festival continues – Book early!
