The full line-up of the world’s biggest celebration of the crime genre has been unveiled at an exclusive London launch party.
Lee Child, Programming Chair of the 2018 Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, flew in from New York to host the party with arts charity, Harrogate International Festivals, which delivers the annual festival hosted annually at the Old Swan Hotel in Harrogate.
Alongside authors, editors, publishers and agents attending The Hospital Club in Covent Garden, supporters and patrons of Harrogate International Festivals are expected to attend.
Lee Child, author of the global bestselling Jack Reacher series, will head up an American invasion to Harrogate this summer.
A Reacher novel is sold somewhere in the world every nine seconds. Published in over one hundred territories, Lee Child’s novels have been adapted to two Hollywood films starring Tom Cruise. Lee will be in conversation with John Grisham, a name synonymous with the modern legal thriller.
Other American authors include Don Winslow, who has sold over 100 million books worldwide and Laura Lippman, a former journalist on the Baltimore Sun turned New York Times bestselling author, considered one of the most acclaimed novelists in America.
The festival takes place 19-22 July at Agatha Christie’s old haunt, The Old Swan Hotel.
Lee Child said: “I’ve been to all the festivals in the world and Harrogate is by far my favourite, so it’s a joy to be 2018’s chair. For authors, it’s a chance to hang out and socialise in beautiful Harrogate, and more crucially we get to meet the most important people – our readers. Crime writers deal with some of the biggest issues of our times, so I promise our incredible line-up will inspire thought and debate. I love it because this festival also has such warmth and camaraderie – it’s the most fun book event out there.”
Special Guests also include Linwood Barclay, Denise Mina, Sophie Hannah, Nicci French, and Festival co-founder Val McDermid, who will be in conversation with Professor Dame Sue Black, director of the Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification at Dundee University. Val McDermid has unveiled her four ‘New Blood’ debut crime novelists for 2018, which is one of the most anticipated events in publishing, and will showcase four hand-picked debuts from the Queen of Crime: The chosen authors are Stuart Turton, CJ Tudor, Will Dean, and Irish author Dervla McTiernan – READ MORE HERE
Simon Theakston, Executive Director of T&R Theakstons and title sponsor, said: “The crime genre dominates more than ever. There’s huge thirst for the genre’s moral framework where usually, justice prevails, proven by the fact our chair this year, Lee Child, is a hero to millions of readers. I’m delighted, as 2018’s festival looks even bigger and better than ever, our celebration of the genre is no doubt the best in the world.”
The Festival opens with a day-long writing workshop, Creative Thursday, followed by the crime writing equivalent of The Oscars, the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award.
Festival goers will join the world’s most celebrated crime authors in conversation, in action and in the bar, including panel events with Alafair Burke, Karen Cleveland, AA Dhand, Gregg Hurwitz, Simon Mayo, Chris Brookmyre, Yrsa Sigurðardóttir, Ann Cleeves and Eva Dolan. There’ll be a Late Night Event with BBC’s Pointless star, Richard Osman, and stand-up turned crime author, Mark Billingham.
Established in 2003 by Val McDermid, agent Jane Gregory and arts charity Harrogate International Festivals, 2018 marks the 16th Festival.
Famed for its no barriers approach, fans, fledgling writers and established superstar authors mingle in the hotel bar. It 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.
