Pauline Rowson's Blog, page 79
January 3, 2011
Looking forward to a busy 2011
January kicks off with an appearance on Portsmouth Live TV on 6 January with Live at Five with Sally Cronin at 5pm. I’ll be chatting to Sally about my crime novels including the publication of the sixth in the Inspector Andy Horton Marine Mystery crime series, Footsteps on the Shore on 27 January. I'll also be talking about the forthcoming launch of the Crime Writers’ Association Young Crime Writers Competition 2011 on 10 January. Once again I will be the southern area judge for the competition and looking forward to reading the entries from budding young crime writers.
On 21 January I will be on the Julian Clegg Breakfast Show on BBC Radio Solent at the crack of dawn, well it is to many people at 6.45 am.
Then on 27 January the NEW Inspector Andy Horton crime novel is published. Footsteps On The Shore is the sixth in the Inspector Andy Horton marine mystery series and will be published in hardback by Severn House.
The 24 February sees the publication in Large Print of Dead Man's Wharf (the fourth in the Inspector Andy Horton series. It will also be published as an unabridged audio book and download early in the year, although I’m not sure exactly when.
In March Blood on the Sand is to be published in mass market paperback. This will please some readers who have e mailed me to say they can’t get hold of Blood on the Sand in hardcover or trade paperback; sorry these sold out but you’ll certainly be able to buy the new edition.
In April I’ll be appearing at some venues on the Isle of Wight where two of my crime novels are set. More details on this to follow.
Also in April, Dead Man's Wharf will be published in mass market paperback. The hardcover and trade paperback versions sold out so it will be great to have the new paperback version available.
April also sees the arrival of the London Book Fair, hopefully without the volcanic ash cloud which prevented all my overseas agents from attending in 2010. I will be at the London Book Fair on the 11th and 12th
On 30 April I will announce the South Coast winner of the Young Crime Writers’ Competition 2011 at an Awards Ceremony at Portsmouth Central Library.
Then in May I will be appearing at Crimefest, at the Royal Marriott Hotel, Bristol. CRIMEFEST is a convention for people who like to read an occasional crime novel as well as for die-hard fanatics. It is now one of the most popular dates in the crime fiction calendar.
From the 13- 19 June it is National Crime Writing Week. The Crime Writers' Association of Great Britain (CWA), of which I am a member, is organising a celebration of crime writing during the week. Members of the CWA will take part in readings, discussions, readers' group events and workshops all over the country.
I will be speaking at many other events during the year including the second Crime and the City, CSI Portsmouth event, probably to be held at the beginning of November. This was an extremely popular event in 2010 and I’m looking forward to taking part in it again with some of my fellow crime writers, forensic experts and Hampshire Police.
Meanwhile I am writing the seventh in the DI Andy Horton series, as yet untitled and hope to see publication of that during 2011.
For more news about my books and events keep your eyes peeled here or on my official web site www.rowmark.co.uk
Here’s wishing you a very Happy New Year and a peaceful, healthy and successful 2011.
Footsteps on the Shore
On 21 January I will be on the Julian Clegg Breakfast Show on BBC Radio Solent at the crack of dawn, well it is to many people at 6.45 am.
Then on 27 January the NEW Inspector Andy Horton crime novel is published. Footsteps On The Shore is the sixth in the Inspector Andy Horton marine mystery series and will be published in hardback by Severn House.
The 24 February sees the publication in Large Print of Dead Man's Wharf (the fourth in the Inspector Andy Horton series. It will also be published as an unabridged audio book and download early in the year, although I’m not sure exactly when.
In March Blood on the Sand is to be published in mass market paperback. This will please some readers who have e mailed me to say they can’t get hold of Blood on the Sand in hardcover or trade paperback; sorry these sold out but you’ll certainly be able to buy the new edition.
In April I’ll be appearing at some venues on the Isle of Wight where two of my crime novels are set. More details on this to follow.
Also in April, Dead Man's Wharf will be published in mass market paperback. The hardcover and trade paperback versions sold out so it will be great to have the new paperback version available.
April also sees the arrival of the London Book Fair, hopefully without the volcanic ash cloud which prevented all my overseas agents from attending in 2010. I will be at the London Book Fair on the 11th and 12th
On 30 April I will announce the South Coast winner of the Young Crime Writers’ Competition 2011 at an Awards Ceremony at Portsmouth Central Library.
Then in May I will be appearing at Crimefest, at the Royal Marriott Hotel, Bristol. CRIMEFEST is a convention for people who like to read an occasional crime novel as well as for die-hard fanatics. It is now one of the most popular dates in the crime fiction calendar.
From the 13- 19 June it is National Crime Writing Week. The Crime Writers' Association of Great Britain (CWA), of which I am a member, is organising a celebration of crime writing during the week. Members of the CWA will take part in readings, discussions, readers' group events and workshops all over the country.
I will be speaking at many other events during the year including the second Crime and the City, CSI Portsmouth event, probably to be held at the beginning of November. This was an extremely popular event in 2010 and I’m looking forward to taking part in it again with some of my fellow crime writers, forensic experts and Hampshire Police.
Meanwhile I am writing the seventh in the DI Andy Horton series, as yet untitled and hope to see publication of that during 2011.
For more news about my books and events keep your eyes peeled here or on my official web site www.rowmark.co.uk
Here’s wishing you a very Happy New Year and a peaceful, healthy and successful 2011.
Footsteps on the Shore
December 31, 2010
It's been an interesting and productive 2010
I've enjoyed writing and undertaking many speaking engagements and media appearances throughout the year. I've met some fascinating people and made lots of new friends.
As 2010 draws to a close I thought it appropriate to thank my many readers, my publishers, booksellers, agents, those who have supported me in the book trade and the media, and in the libraries across the UK, the Commonwealth and the USA.
Here is a quick round up and some of the highlights of 2010 which saw:
the publication of Blood on the Sand (number five in the DI Andy Horton marine mystery crime series) in hardcover and trade paperback with a great review from Eurocrime and Booklist in the States
the publication of Dead Man's Wharf (number four in the DI Andy Horton series) in trade paperback and a fantastic starred review by Kirkus in the USA
the publication of The Suffocating Sea in mass market paperback (the third in the DI Andy Horton series)
the publication in Turkey of the thriller novel In Cold Daylight
the sale of translation rights of Tide of Death and In Cold Daylight to China
the sale of unabridged audio book rights to Dead Man's Wharf
nineteen public appearances and talks throughout the UK
the hugely successful launch of Crime and the City, CSI Portsmouth event as part of Portsmouth Bookfest
several television and radio appearances
some wonderful readers and new readers
And the completion of the sixth DI Andy Horton novel Footsteps on the Shore which will be published on 27 January 2011.
All in all it's been a productive and enjoyable year.
As 2010 draws to a close I thought it appropriate to thank my many readers, my publishers, booksellers, agents, those who have supported me in the book trade and the media, and in the libraries across the UK, the Commonwealth and the USA.
Here is a quick round up and some of the highlights of 2010 which saw:
the publication of Blood on the Sand (number five in the DI Andy Horton marine mystery crime series) in hardcover and trade paperback with a great review from Eurocrime and Booklist in the States
the publication of Dead Man's Wharf (number four in the DI Andy Horton series) in trade paperback and a fantastic starred review by Kirkus in the USA
the publication of The Suffocating Sea in mass market paperback (the third in the DI Andy Horton series)
the publication in Turkey of the thriller novel In Cold Daylight
the sale of translation rights of Tide of Death and In Cold Daylight to China
the sale of unabridged audio book rights to Dead Man's Wharf
nineteen public appearances and talks throughout the UK
the hugely successful launch of Crime and the City, CSI Portsmouth event as part of Portsmouth Bookfest
several television and radio appearances
some wonderful readers and new readers
And the completion of the sixth DI Andy Horton novel Footsteps on the Shore which will be published on 27 January 2011.
All in all it's been a productive and enjoyable year.
December 22, 2010
A very special evening and a delightful one presenting prizes and talking to budding writers
Over seventy people attended the prize giving ceremony last night of the Wight Fair Writers Circle, Winter Short Story Writing Competition in Newport on the Isle of Wight.
I was very honoured to be asked to give a talk at this wonderful event and to present the prizes to the adult category of the competition in the Castlehold Baptist Church and new reception rooms in Newport.
I'm very grateful to Wightlink who generously sponsored my ferry trip across to the Isle of Wight from the mainland at Portsmouth. All proceeds from the competition, organised by Carol Bridgestock and the Wight Fair Writers Circle went to the Love Russia Charity, The Multiple Sclerosis Society and The Barely Born Appeal.
I was also delighted to sign copies of my novels, two of which are set on the Isle of Wight, a thriller In For The Kill and an Inspector Andy Horton marine mystery crime novel Blood on the Sand. The Suffocating Sea (another Andy Horton crime novel) is also partly based on the Island.
It was a great evening and I was thrilled to see so many young people participating in the competition and especially an overwhelming number of boys.
Before I attended the award ceremony I dropped into Waterstones in Newport where I met the manager, Paul and signed copies of my thriller In For The Kill. I was very proud and pleased to discover this is one of their most popular fiction novels alongside that of fellow thriller writer Robert Goddard. I promised Paul that I would return to Waterstones in Newport, hopefully during National Crime Fiction Week in June 2011, a Crime Writers' Association initiative, of which I am a member. More details on this and other events in due course.
Suffocating Sea, The
I was very honoured to be asked to give a talk at this wonderful event and to present the prizes to the adult category of the competition in the Castlehold Baptist Church and new reception rooms in Newport.
I'm very grateful to Wightlink who generously sponsored my ferry trip across to the Isle of Wight from the mainland at Portsmouth. All proceeds from the competition, organised by Carol Bridgestock and the Wight Fair Writers Circle went to the Love Russia Charity, The Multiple Sclerosis Society and The Barely Born Appeal.
I was also delighted to sign copies of my novels, two of which are set on the Isle of Wight, a thriller In For The Kill and an Inspector Andy Horton marine mystery crime novel Blood on the Sand. The Suffocating Sea (another Andy Horton crime novel) is also partly based on the Island.
It was a great evening and I was thrilled to see so many young people participating in the competition and especially an overwhelming number of boys.
Before I attended the award ceremony I dropped into Waterstones in Newport where I met the manager, Paul and signed copies of my thriller In For The Kill. I was very proud and pleased to discover this is one of their most popular fiction novels alongside that of fellow thriller writer Robert Goddard. I promised Paul that I would return to Waterstones in Newport, hopefully during National Crime Fiction Week in June 2011, a Crime Writers' Association initiative, of which I am a member. More details on this and other events in due course.
Suffocating Sea, The
December 16, 2010
My talk to Broad Chalke, Women's Institute near Salisbury went well
Broad Chalke, near Salisbury is a picturesque English village with a beautiful church, stunning old English Inn, a post office, village shop and a village hall where I was giving a talk last night to the Women's Institute. The only problem was I couldn't see the village because it was dark! Nevertheless the welcome I was given was warm and light hearted and I've vowed to return to Broad Chalke in broad daylight one day, which will also give me the chance to see some of the lovely sweeping Wiltshire countryside.
Wiltshire is a county I am very fond of despite it being some fifty or so miles from the sea. I love the rolling downs and the pretty thatched villages and market towns and I am rather biased because I once lived and worked in Wiltshire. My husband was stationed at RAF Lyneham and I worked in Swindon and Chippenham Jobcentres many moons ago.
If you have read my thriller In Cold Daylight then you'll know that my reluctant hero, Adam Green, travels to the old market town of Devizes and rides across the Wiltshire downs.
Thanks ladies for inviting me and making me feel so welcome.
The link below is to the Indonesian version of In Cold Daylight but there is an English version. Not sure why it's not listed here but you can find more details on my web site http://www.rowmark.co.uk or look up the details on Amazon or The Book Depository
book:In Cold Daylight|1450868]
Wiltshire is a county I am very fond of despite it being some fifty or so miles from the sea. I love the rolling downs and the pretty thatched villages and market towns and I am rather biased because I once lived and worked in Wiltshire. My husband was stationed at RAF Lyneham and I worked in Swindon and Chippenham Jobcentres many moons ago.
If you have read my thriller In Cold Daylight then you'll know that my reluctant hero, Adam Green, travels to the old market town of Devizes and rides across the Wiltshire downs.
Thanks ladies for inviting me and making me feel so welcome.
The link below is to the Indonesian version of In Cold Daylight but there is an English version. Not sure why it's not listed here but you can find more details on my web site http://www.rowmark.co.uk or look up the details on Amazon or The Book Depository
book:In Cold Daylight|1450868]
December 13, 2010
Morse has his Oxford, Rebus has Edinburgh and Andy Horton has the Solent
Many of you know that I draw my inspiration and ideas from the area in which I live and where my DI Andy Horton crime novels and thriller novels are set: Portsmouth, the Isle of Wight and generally the Solent area on the South Coast of England.
My marine mystery country is a vibrant area full of contrasts and contradictions, which is why I find it fascinating. Portsmouth (UK) is also my home town, or I should say the city where I was raised, so I know it well, warts and all.
It's a waterfront city with a colourful and diverse history. Home to HMS Victory, HMS Warrior 1860, the Mary Rose Museum, The Royal Naval Museum, and the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. But it's not all history.
There is a thriving Commercial Ferry Port with sailings to France, the Channel Islands and Spain. And soon the cruise liners Hebridean Princess and its sister brands Voyages of Discovery and Swan Hellenic will be sailing from Portsmouth with the completion of a new passenger terminal in February 2011. That's sure to provide inspiration for a new Andy Horton novel or a thriller.
Because the harbour entrance is so narrow you feel as if you can almost touch the ships as they sail past you at the ancient fortifications of Old Portsmouth. No where else can you get so close.
One of the most densely populated cities in Europe, the Portsmouth poor rub shoulders with the rich as the ancient walls of Old Portsmouth and it's tiny historic houses rub shoulders with the stunning new waterfront of Gunwharf Quays renamed Oyster Quays in the Horton novels.
There is always something to see particularly on the sea! The navy ships, the orange and black tug boats, the Continental and Isle of Wight ferries, the hovercraft, pleasure craft, fishing boats, Border Agency boats, lifeboats and much, much more...
The Isle of Wight, just a few miles across the Solent, seems a world away with its rolling downs, beautiful bays, stunning coastline, and prehistoric remains. Yes, it has its poor areas and its rough places but it also, like Portsmouth, has that island mentality that makes it unique. It has some lovely walks, great for thinking through plots while admiring the scenery.
People sometimes ask me if I will run out of ideas for my novels. Perhaps one day I might but a stroll along the coastline wherever that might be: Portsmouth, Hayling Island, the Isle of Wight and I know a new idea will spring to mind and set that to rights. There are photograph of the marine mystery area where my crime novels are set on my blog.
Tide of Death
My marine mystery country is a vibrant area full of contrasts and contradictions, which is why I find it fascinating. Portsmouth (UK) is also my home town, or I should say the city where I was raised, so I know it well, warts and all.
It's a waterfront city with a colourful and diverse history. Home to HMS Victory, HMS Warrior 1860, the Mary Rose Museum, The Royal Naval Museum, and the Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. But it's not all history.
There is a thriving Commercial Ferry Port with sailings to France, the Channel Islands and Spain. And soon the cruise liners Hebridean Princess and its sister brands Voyages of Discovery and Swan Hellenic will be sailing from Portsmouth with the completion of a new passenger terminal in February 2011. That's sure to provide inspiration for a new Andy Horton novel or a thriller.
Because the harbour entrance is so narrow you feel as if you can almost touch the ships as they sail past you at the ancient fortifications of Old Portsmouth. No where else can you get so close.
One of the most densely populated cities in Europe, the Portsmouth poor rub shoulders with the rich as the ancient walls of Old Portsmouth and it's tiny historic houses rub shoulders with the stunning new waterfront of Gunwharf Quays renamed Oyster Quays in the Horton novels.
There is always something to see particularly on the sea! The navy ships, the orange and black tug boats, the Continental and Isle of Wight ferries, the hovercraft, pleasure craft, fishing boats, Border Agency boats, lifeboats and much, much more...
The Isle of Wight, just a few miles across the Solent, seems a world away with its rolling downs, beautiful bays, stunning coastline, and prehistoric remains. Yes, it has its poor areas and its rough places but it also, like Portsmouth, has that island mentality that makes it unique. It has some lovely walks, great for thinking through plots while admiring the scenery.
People sometimes ask me if I will run out of ideas for my novels. Perhaps one day I might but a stroll along the coastline wherever that might be: Portsmouth, Hayling Island, the Isle of Wight and I know a new idea will spring to mind and set that to rights. There are photograph of the marine mystery area where my crime novels are set on my blog.
Tide of Death
December 6, 2010
New Video-researching the crime novel and the importance of location
I've uploaded a new video interview. In this short video I am in conversation with Tony Smith talking about my marine mystery police procedural crime novels featuring the flawed and rugged Detective Inspector Andy Horton, and my thrillers.
I discuss how I research them and I'm also talking about the importance of their location which is Portsmouth UK and the surrounding Solent area on the South Coast of England and how location provides inspiration and creates atmosphere. There are some photographs of the location.
I hope you enjoy listening to it. You can find more video interviews and details of all my books on my website.
Footsteps on the Shore
I discuss how I research them and I'm also talking about the importance of their location which is Portsmouth UK and the surrounding Solent area on the South Coast of England and how location provides inspiration and creates atmosphere. There are some photographs of the location.
I hope you enjoy listening to it. You can find more video interviews and details of all my books on my website.
Footsteps on the Shore
November 29, 2010
Pauline Rowson to appear at Crimefest 2011
I'm delighted to be returning to Crimefest in 2011 and I'm looking forward to meeting crime fiction fans from all over the World and some of my fellow crime writers at this very popular annual crime convention.
CRIMEFEST will be held at the Bristol Royal Marriott Hotel from 19 - 22 May 2011. It is a convention for people who like to read an occasional crime novel as well as for die-hard fanatics. First organised in June 2008, CRIMEFEST is now one of the most popular dates in the crime fiction calendar.
The annual convention draws top crime novelists, readers, editors, publishers and reviewers from around the world and gives delegates the opportunity to celebrate the genre in an informal atmosphere. It follows the format of US conventions and includes interviews, panels, a gala dinner, and one or two surprises.
I'm not sure which panel I will be on yet, when and with whom but will certainly post the details here and they'll be on my official web site as soon as I know them.
The Suffocating Sea: An Andy Horton Mystery
CRIMEFEST will be held at the Bristol Royal Marriott Hotel from 19 - 22 May 2011. It is a convention for people who like to read an occasional crime novel as well as for die-hard fanatics. First organised in June 2008, CRIMEFEST is now one of the most popular dates in the crime fiction calendar.
The annual convention draws top crime novelists, readers, editors, publishers and reviewers from around the world and gives delegates the opportunity to celebrate the genre in an informal atmosphere. It follows the format of US conventions and includes interviews, panels, a gala dinner, and one or two surprises.
I'm not sure which panel I will be on yet, when and with whom but will certainly post the details here and they'll be on my official web site as soon as I know them.
The Suffocating Sea: An Andy Horton Mystery
November 22, 2010
Three more appearances before the year draws to a close
I've got three more appearances and talks to come before the year draws to a close. On 27 November I will be at Waterstones in Portsmouth between 12 noon and 2pm signing copies of my crime novels or just chatting to readers and anyone else who happens to pass by and is foolish enough to give me eye contact!
Then on 15 December I will be travelling to Broad Chalke in Salisbury to give a talk to the Women’s Institute, which is followed by a trip across the Solent to the Isle of Wight on 21 December to give a short talk and present the prizes to the adult winners of The Wight Fair Writers Circle, A Winter Short Story Writing Competition. Two of my crime novels are set on the Isle of Wight: Blood on the Sand, an Inspector Andy Horton marine mystery police procedural and In For The Kill, a stand alone thriller.
Then it’s looking ahead to 2011 and seeing what I’ve got lined up in the way of talks and guest appearances. This includes The London Book Fair 11-13 April 2011 and an appearance on a panel at the International Crimefest 19-22 May 2011 in Bristol. More on engagements for 2011 to follow and more information on my web site.
Blood on the Sand
In for the Kill
Then on 15 December I will be travelling to Broad Chalke in Salisbury to give a talk to the Women’s Institute, which is followed by a trip across the Solent to the Isle of Wight on 21 December to give a short talk and present the prizes to the adult winners of The Wight Fair Writers Circle, A Winter Short Story Writing Competition. Two of my crime novels are set on the Isle of Wight: Blood on the Sand, an Inspector Andy Horton marine mystery police procedural and In For The Kill, a stand alone thriller.
Then it’s looking ahead to 2011 and seeing what I’ve got lined up in the way of talks and guest appearances. This includes The London Book Fair 11-13 April 2011 and an appearance on a panel at the International Crimefest 19-22 May 2011 in Bristol. More on engagements for 2011 to follow and more information on my web site.
Blood on the SandIn for the Kill
November 15, 2010
The new Inspector Andy Horton marine mystery crime novel, Footsteps on the Shore, due to be published on 27 January
Footsteps on the Shore the sixth in the Inspector Andy Horton marine mystery series of crime novels set in the Solent area on the South Coast of England is being published in hardcover on 27 January 2011. I have been promising to post details about this latest crime fiction police procedural featuring my hunky DI, Andy Horton so here it is.
Friday the thirteenth begins badly for DI Andy Horton when he wakes to find his Harley has been vandalized and his boss, DCI Lorraine Bliss, has returned early from her secondment to HQ.
Then, convicted murderer, Luke Felton, released on licence, is reported missing and a decomposed corpse is washed up in Portsmouth harbour. But before Horton can get a grip on either case, he’s called to a house where a woman he’d only met the day before has been brutally murdered. Is missing Luke Felton the prime suspect, or is it his body in the mud of the harbour? Horton is under pressure to get results, but things are about to get much worse for the beleaguered detective …
Footsteps on the Shore is available to pre-order through The Book Depository web site for a fantastic discounted price I see. It's also available on Amazon, Waterstones and other on line bookshops and can be ordered through any high street or independent bookseller.
More information about this and others in the Andy Horton series can be found on my official web site.
Footsteps on the Shore
Friday the thirteenth begins badly for DI Andy Horton when he wakes to find his Harley has been vandalized and his boss, DCI Lorraine Bliss, has returned early from her secondment to HQ.
Then, convicted murderer, Luke Felton, released on licence, is reported missing and a decomposed corpse is washed up in Portsmouth harbour. But before Horton can get a grip on either case, he’s called to a house where a woman he’d only met the day before has been brutally murdered. Is missing Luke Felton the prime suspect, or is it his body in the mud of the harbour? Horton is under pressure to get results, but things are about to get much worse for the beleaguered detective …
Footsteps on the Shore is available to pre-order through The Book Depository web site for a fantastic discounted price I see. It's also available on Amazon, Waterstones and other on line bookshops and can be ordered through any high street or independent bookseller.
More information about this and others in the Andy Horton series can be found on my official web site.
Footsteps on the Shore
November 8, 2010
CSI Portsmouth, Crime and the City Event a great success
Over 200 people packed the hall in Portsmouth to hear crime fiction authors pitch their wits against police and forensic experts in a unique event the first ever Crime and the City CSI Portsmouth held as part of Portsmouth Bookfest on 6 November.
Lovers of crime fiction and CSI television programmes came together to hear crime authors and crime experts debate fact meets fiction.
Crime and the City, CSI Portsmouth kicked off at 10am with a morning panel featuring crime authors Simon Brett, June Hampson and (me) Pauline Rowson, who were joined by Crime Scene Investigators from Hampshire Constabulary and forensic psychologists from the University of Portsmouth. The afternoon session at 1pm featured crime authors Graham Hurley, Peter Lovesey and Pauline Rowson again with police and forensic experts.
On the expert side was DS Martin Chudley, in charge of the Crime Scene Investigation team for Hampshire Constabulary and Jane Aston and her team from the Fingerprinting Bureau. With them was Dr Claire Nee, Director of the International Centre for Research in Forensic Psychology at Portsmouth University, an expert in forensic psychology and Dr Paul Smith, an expert in Crime Scenes. To keep us all in check was panel moderator Cheryl Buggy, Station Director at Express FM, as she stimulated a lively discussion amongst the authors and experts and took questions from the audience.
There was the opportunity for delegates to see how the fingerprinting bureau works and have their thumbprint pressed into a keyring to take away. Delegates were also able to talk to the crime authors to find out how they come up with their intricate plots and research their novels.
A mobile bookshop was provided by the Hayling Island Bookshop who helped to organise the event along with the Portsmouth Library Service.
It was a great day and we all enjoyed it tremendously. It was so successful that we are hoping to build on it and do something even bigger and better next year at the Portsmouth Bookfest 2011. I'd like to thank everyone who participated and who worked so hard to make it a success, and most of all I'd like to thank the audience.
Lovers of crime fiction and CSI television programmes came together to hear crime authors and crime experts debate fact meets fiction.
Crime and the City, CSI Portsmouth kicked off at 10am with a morning panel featuring crime authors Simon Brett, June Hampson and (me) Pauline Rowson, who were joined by Crime Scene Investigators from Hampshire Constabulary and forensic psychologists from the University of Portsmouth. The afternoon session at 1pm featured crime authors Graham Hurley, Peter Lovesey and Pauline Rowson again with police and forensic experts.
On the expert side was DS Martin Chudley, in charge of the Crime Scene Investigation team for Hampshire Constabulary and Jane Aston and her team from the Fingerprinting Bureau. With them was Dr Claire Nee, Director of the International Centre for Research in Forensic Psychology at Portsmouth University, an expert in forensic psychology and Dr Paul Smith, an expert in Crime Scenes. To keep us all in check was panel moderator Cheryl Buggy, Station Director at Express FM, as she stimulated a lively discussion amongst the authors and experts and took questions from the audience.
There was the opportunity for delegates to see how the fingerprinting bureau works and have their thumbprint pressed into a keyring to take away. Delegates were also able to talk to the crime authors to find out how they come up with their intricate plots and research their novels.
A mobile bookshop was provided by the Hayling Island Bookshop who helped to organise the event along with the Portsmouth Library Service.
It was a great day and we all enjoyed it tremendously. It was so successful that we are hoping to build on it and do something even bigger and better next year at the Portsmouth Bookfest 2011. I'd like to thank everyone who participated and who worked so hard to make it a success, and most of all I'd like to thank the audience.
