This is a personal account of my experience at the festival. I did not attend every event so I can only comment on those I did.
(Quotes are from the online brochure)
EVENT 2: DRAGON PARADE
Castle Point to Bandstand
Time : 18.00 – 18.45 Friday 21st, April.
Join the members of Crime Cymru and a host of international authors, as we kick off this year’s festival with the Dragon Parade from Castle Point to the Bandstand.
All welcome!
This was less a Dragon Parade and more an author stroll. Gathering at Castle Point, the organisers, helpers and several authors made their way in dribs and drabs along the Promenade towards the Bandstand. The only dragon connection came in the form of a few small Welsh flags, one face mask and one silly hat. The accompanying policeman showed little interest in staying once they reached the Bandstand. Few turned out to watch the procession.
In other words, the Dragon had no puff. But it had ceremonial significance.
EVENT 6: TRADE SECRETS AND TWISTED IDENTITIES
Ceredigion Museum 10.15 – 11.15 am, Saturday 22nd April
Writing a long series has its own difficulties, as does writing under two names in two different directions. How do you keep track? What are the things you know from your other lives that you bring to your writing? Learn a few trade secrets from three of the best.
Panellists : Caro Ramsay, Zoë Sharp
Chair : Sarah Ward
Close Up Reader : Stephen Puleston
No sign of a Close Up reader at this event, nor any reading. Sarah Ward did a fantastic job of interviewing Caro and Zoë, eliciting tales of their writing journeys from origin to the present day. Both guests were good value. I had a question ready to ask at the end but the first hand up beat me to it.
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(C) Belinda Bauer |
EVENT 8: STICK OR TWIST?
Ceredigion Museum, 11.30 – 12.30 pm, Saturday 22nd April.
Standalone crime novels versus series – what are the challenges and rewards of each? Should you ‘stick’ with one main protagonist and follow them in a series, or should you ‘twist’ and start from scratch with each book? Join Louise Mumford as she chats to Belinda Bauer and Philip Gwynne Jones to find out the pros and cons of each style of crime fiction.
Panellists : Belinda Bauer, Philip Gwynne Jones
Chair : Louise Mumford
Close Up Reader : Eamonn Griffin
I had to go to this one. Belinda is one of my writing heroes, ever since she tutored a course I attended at Ty Newydd. Her talents know no bounds. I was unfamiliar with Phil and Louise. That didn't matter. It turned out they were both delightful.
As the Close Up reader was absent, Phil stepped in and read the piece beautifully. He has such a rich, resonant tone to his voice.
I didn't ask a question despite being challenged beforehand by Belinda to do so. She would have been annoyed if I had. I was going to ask for their 25-word pitch for their latest Work In Progress.
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Bev Jones steps in to introduce the event in Welsh and English, when no Welsh speakers were available, despite not being fluent in the former. |
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Phil stepped in again for the Close Up Reader, despite not even being on the panel. |
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Jacky Collins, laid back style |
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The hat's off so Abi Barden is now GB Williams, thinking "Another audience question not for me." |
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Ben Aaronovitch revealed his writing chair is custom-made. It is so expensive it is the only item listed individually on his house-contents insurance form. |
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