Val McDermid's Blog, page 17

November 20, 2014

Spend an evening with Val

An Evening with Val McDermid

Val talks about her new novel The Skeleton Road.







Date:

Friday 21st November 2014




Time:
7.30pm – 9.00pm


Venue:
Loch Leven Community Library
Loch Leven Communtiy Campus
The Muirs
KY13 8FQ


Cost:
£5.00 – Booking Essential





Loch Leven Community Library, Friday 21st November

Val McDermid is one of the biggest names in British crime writing. Her novels have been translated into 30 languages and sold over 10 million copies worldwide. Join this award-winning crime writer, journalist and occasional broadcaster as she discusses her successful writing career and reads from her soon to be published new novel, The Skeleton Road.


More Information:


http://www.pkc.gov.uk/article/9536/An-Evening-with-Val-McDermid






 



 



An Evening with Queen of Crime, part of Books on the Tyne festival







Date:

Sunday 30th November 2014




Time:
6pm – 7.30pm


Venue:

Newcastle City Library (Bewick Hall)
33 New Bridge Street West
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 8AX





Cost:
£10.00 / £8.00






Books on Tyne festival An Evening with Queen of Crime, 30 November 2014

Award-winning crime writer Val McDermid in conversation with Gail-Nina Anderson rounds off Books on Tyne ‘On the Edge’. Psychological thrills don’t get more thrilling than in Val’s world so hold onto the edge of your seats tonight at our grand finale!


Café at city library will be open for the purchase of drinks.


More Information:


http://www.booksontyne.co.uk/events/item/an-evening-with-queen-of-crime-val-mcdermid

 •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on November 20, 2014 08:39

November 12, 2014

BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week – Forensics

BBC Radio 4

Book of the Week





BBC Radio 4 – Book of the week

Don’t forget to listen to Val reading from FORENSICS, currently BBC Radio4’s  Book of the Week.


Click the link below…


http://bbc.in/1tCbXaf

 •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on November 12, 2014 11:56

October 24, 2014

Start the Week

BBC Radio 4

Start the Week




Radio 4 Start the Week
BBC Radio 4 – Start the Week

If you missed Val talking about her latest book, FORENSICS, on BBC Radio 4’s Start the Week or want to listen again, there’s still time!


Click the link below…


http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04l0gd4

1 like ·   •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on October 24, 2014 10:42

October 8, 2014

Presented by 5×15: FORENSICS: An Anatomy of Crime

Presented by 5×15: FORENSICS: An Anatomy of Crime

15th October 2014 – 5×15 brings together five outstanding individuals to tell of their lives, passions and inspirations.







Date:

Wednesday 15th October 2014




Time:
7.30pm


Venue:
Wilton’s Music Hall, London






5×15 Wilton’s Music Hall, London

5×15 brings together five outstanding individuals to tell of their lives, passions and inspirations. There are only two rules – no scripts and only 15 minutes each. 


Val McDermid is in conversation with Kate Summerscale about her latest book Forensics – The Anatomy of Crime


More Information:


http://wiltons.org.uk/booknow.php?p=835

 •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on October 08, 2014 04:40

September 27, 2014

Forensics- The Anatomy of Crime – Out 2nd October

From TheGuardian – 27th September 2014
The grisly history of forensics – by crime writer Val McDermid
Forensics - The Anatomy of CrimeBlood-sucking flies, exhumed stomachs and DNA profiling – the tools of forensic science have, over the centuries, solved many a gruesome murder

In the public mind, forensic science means cutting-edge technology: well-equipped professionals performing complex experiments in glossy laboratories, as in CSI or Silent Witness. In fact, the real story of forensics is full of courtroom disasters, eccentric pioneers, crowd-pleasing showmen and dangerous (sometimes fatal) research.


For years, authorities and individuals have known that there was more to crime than just testimony: that the scene of the crime, or a murder weapon, or even a few drops of blood, could also bear witness to the truth. The first recorded use of forensics in the solution of a crime comes from a Chinese handbook for coroners called The Washing Away of Wrongs, produced in 1247. One of the many case studies it contains follows the investigation of a roadside stabbing. The coroner examined the slashes on the victim’s body, then tested an assortment of blades on a cow carcass. He concluded that the murder weapon was a sickle. But knowing what caused the wounds was a long way from identifying whose hand had wielded the blade, so he turned to possible motives. The victim’s possessions were intact, which ruled out robbery. According to his widow, he had no enemies. The best lead was the revelation that the victim hadn’t been able to satisfy a man who had recently demanded the repayment of a debt.


Read more – TheGuardian online…


 


• This is an extract from Val McDermid‘s Forensics: The Anatomy of Crime is published by Profile at £18.99 on 2 October. To order a copy for £14.99, visit guardianbookshop.co.uk or call 0330 333 6846. A major forensics exhibition will be held at the Wellcome Collection, London NW1, in February 2015.

1 like ·   •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on September 27, 2014 02:55

August 29, 2014

Val to Visit Australia

Val Visits Australia 22rd - 30th September 2014

Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane







Dates:

Perth: Monday 22 September


Melbourne: Wednesday 24 September


Brisbane: Friday 26 September


Sydney: Monday 29 September








Tour Dates

Perth: Monday 22 September  
6.30pm – 7.30pm
Val McDermid on The Skeleton Road at UWA Perth 

Venue: The University Club of Western Australia
Theatre Auditorium, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley
Ticket price: $29
For more details contact UWA on (08) 6488 2433 or book directly.


Melbourne: Wednesday 24 September
6.00pm – 8pm 
Tartan Noir Crime Queen, Val McDermid at the Melbourne Comedy Club 

Host: Sisters in Crime and the Athenaeum Library 
Venue: Comedy Club, 2nd Floor (above Athenaeum Library)
188 Collins Street, Melbourne
Ticket price: $15/$10 (members of Sisters in Crime, Writers Victoria & the Athenaeum Library/concession)
For more details and to book, visit sistersincrime.org.au


Brisbane: Friday 26 September
12.30pm 
 2.30pm
Val McDermid at the Grand View Hotel

Venue: The Grandview Hotel
49 North Street, Cleveland
For more details and to book, contact GVH on (07) 3286 1002


Sydney: Monday 29 September
7.00pm 
– 8.30pm
Psychology and Crime: Val McDermid in conversation with Michael Robotham
Venue: The Eternity Playhouse
39 Burton Street, Darlinghurst
For more details and to book, visit swf.org.au


 

1 like ·   •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on August 29, 2014 07:38

July 22, 2014

Val McDermid is backing Yes vote

Val McDermid is backing Yes vote





Val McDermid

Val McDermid is backing the Yes vote


Scottish crime writer Val McDermid has come out in favour of a Yes vote in September’s independence referendum.


The Fife-born author revealed her support for a vote for independence in The Guardian newspaper. Ms McDermid from Kirkcaldy sees a marked difference in policies flowing from Holyrood compared to Westminster.


The avid Raith Rovers fan said: “The only basis I could find for making a choice is to look at the track record of what the Scottish Parliament has done differently from Westminster since we’ve had some power restored to us.


“And, overwhelmingly, I prefer what we’ve done north of the border — free prescriptions, no student tuition fees, social care for elderly people. So, with a degree of trepidation, I’m going to nail my colours to the mast of aspiration and vote ‘Yes’.


More Information:


http://www.thecourier.co.uk/news/local/fife/author-val-mcdermid-is-backing-yes-vote-1.482763

 •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on July 22, 2014 03:29

Val Sponsors Raith Rovers

Raith make killing with new sponsor





Val McDermid sponsors Raith Rovers

New sponsor Val McDermid (left) was at Raith’s Scottish Cup quarter-final tie against St Johnstone


A Scottish football team are to be sponsored by a famous crime writer from next season.


Val McDermid, who wrote the novels that inspired the Wire In The Blood series, will be the main shirt sponsor for Raith Rovers in the Scottish Championship.


The writer is a lifelong fan of the club and already sponsors a stand at the Kirkcaldy club’s Stark’s Park stadium.


She has previously said her financial support for Raith is in honour of her father Jim, who was once a scout for the Fife club.


Former prime minister Gordon Brown is another famous supporter of the club and encouraged McDermid to get involved when it was in financial difficulty around a decade ago.


The club said it is an honour to carry the name of her website – valmcdermid.com – on shirts next season.


Despite living in the North of England, the author is often spotted at Rovers matches, including their Scottish Cup quarter-final tie with St Johnstone in March.


With three of Scotland’s biggest clubs also competing with Rovers next season, McDermid hopes there will be extra exposure for the team.


More Information:


http://www.independent.ie/world-news/and-finally/raith-make-killing-with-new-sponsor-30329809.html

 •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on July 22, 2014 03:16

July 18, 2014

Val Reads – and sings ‘The Road and the Miles to Dundee’

VAL MCDERMID READS ‘THE ROAD AND THE MILES TO DUNDEE’

Wordfactory Salon #24 presents Val McDermid reading ‘The Road and the Miles to Dundee’

Introduced by Cathy Galvin

28 June 2014 




Watch more video from the Staff Picks channel on Frequency
 •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on July 18, 2014 03:30

July 17, 2014

Catch Val at the Harrogate Crime Writing Festival

Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival 16 – 20 July

Harrogate Crime Writing Festival







Date:
Wednesday 16 – 20 July 2014


Time:
various times – see opposite


Place:
Harrogate, Yorkshire UK


Cost:
see ticket prices



 

Old peculier Crime Writing Festival 2014

J.K. Rowling writing as Robert Galbraith in conversation with Val McDermid


Friday 18th July 2014 
SPECIAL GUEST EVENT: Robert Galbraith in Conversation with Val McDermid

7.30pm  |  SOLD OUT *


(Please note, Weekend Rover tickets include access to this event. Please call 01423 562303 for more information on how to book a Weekend Rover Ticket)

Mark Billingham said “One of the most unique and compelling detectives I’ve come across in years”, Alex Gray described the novel as “one of the best crime novels I’ve ever read”, and Val McDermid said it reminded her “why I fell in love with crime fiction in the first place”. But when The Cuckoo’s Calling was first published, none of them knew that its author was not what he seemed. When it was revealed that Robert Galbraith was a pseudonym for J.K. Rowling, one of the world’s most successful and beloved authors, there was a media storm and Rowling’s assured, superb crime debut rocketed up the charts. This year, the book’s compelling detective, Cormoran Strike returns in The Silkworm**. In this exclusive appearance, Rowling will talk about turning to crime with the Galbraith books with early fan Val McDermid. Don’t miss an amazing opportunity to see these two highly-acclaimed novelists on stage together.



Sponsored by: Little, Brown Book Group

 


New Blood
Saturday 19th July 2014 

12pm | Tickets £10


Always a highlight of the Festival, the New Blood panel provides a showcase for some of the year’s most outstanding debut crime novels, and Queen of Crime Val McDermid has once again personally selected four brilliant new writers. Ray Celestin, Eva Dolan, Helen Giltrow and Nicola White will be joining Val to discuss their inspirations, aspirations and – of course – their extraordinary first novels. Don’t miss this fantastic opportunity to discover the stars of tomorrow.




Sponsored by: HW Fisher & Company

 


 


Late Night Quiz

Saturday 19th July 2014  

10pm | Tickets £10


We’re not saying it gets deadly serious, but there are quizzes and then there’s the legendary Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival quiz. Hugely popular and hotly contested, it’s a chance to test your knowledge of crime trivia from pseudonyms to theme tunes against authors, publishers, agents, and fellow crime fans. Quiz masters and Celebrity Mastermind winners Mark Billingham and Val McDermid ask the questions to determine who will be waving aloft the genre’s most coveted cup.



Sponsored by: audible.co.uk
 


More Information:


http://harrogateinternationalfestivals.com/crime/2014-festival-events/

 •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on July 17, 2014 03:03

Val McDermid's Blog

Val McDermid
Val McDermid isn't a Goodreads Author (yet), but they do have a blog, so here are some recent posts imported from their feed.
Follow Val McDermid's blog with rss.