Louise Phillips's Blog, page 11

Murder One - Serial Thrillers Launch & Link to full Festival Details

Join the MURDER ONE  team for Serial Thrillers, an evening of criminal conversation and the MURDER ONE festival official launch at

Hodges Figgis Bookshop, Dawson Street
Thursday 20th September 2018
6.30pm
Free event, all welcome (there may be wine!)

In 2017, crime fiction overtook general and literary fiction to officially  become the biggest selling genre in the book trade. What is it about serial killings, police investigations and tales of domestic suspense that keep us coming back for more? Ahead of Murder One, bestselling Irish crime writers Catherine Ryan Howard and Sam Blake will be in conversation with Dr Bernice Murphy, co-director of the M.Phil in Popular Literature at Trinity College Dublin, in an event that’s sure to thrill all crime fiction fans.


Sam Blake is a pseudonym for Vanessa Fox O’Loughlin, the founder of The Inkwell Group publishing consultancy , the national writing resources website Writing.ie, and the Murder One festival. She is Ireland’s leading literary scout. Vanessa has been writing fiction since her husband set sail across the Atlantic for eight weeks and she had an idea for a book.
Her debut novel Little Bones went straight into No 1 and stayed there for four weeks, spending another four weeks in the top 10, and was shortlisted for Irish Crime Novel of the Year. It was followed by bestsellers In Deep Water and No Turning Back. Find out more at www.samblakebooks.com or follow her on Twitter @samblakebooks



Bernice M. Murphy is lecturer in Popular Literature in the School of English, Trinity College, Dublin, and a Fellow of the college. She is co-director of the M.Phil in Popular Literature and has published extensively on topics related to popular literature, especially horror and Gothic fiction and film. Her books include The Rural Gothic: Backwoods Horror and Terror in the Wilderness (2013), The Highway Horror Film (2014), Key Concepts in Contemporary Popular Fiction(2017), and, with, Stephen Matterson, the edited collection Twenty-First Century Popular Fiction (2018). She is the co-founder of the online Irish Journal of Gothic and Horror Studies and is a founding member of the recently established Irish Network for Gothic Studies (INGS).


Catherine Ryan Howard is from Cork, Ireland and now lives in Dublin. Her debut novel, DISTRESS SIGNALS, was an Irish Times and USA Today bestseller, shortlisted for both the IBA Crime Novel of the Year and the CWA John Creasey/New Blood Dagger Award, and was optioned for TV by Jet Stone Media. Her second novel, THE LIAR’S GIRL, was released in 2018. Catherine has just completed a BA in English Literature at Trinity College Dublin as a mature student and is currently working on her third novel.

Hodges Figgis, 56-58 Dawson St, Dublin 2, Dublin’s oldest bookstore.

For full details of the upcoming festival visit HERE

KILLER INSTINCTS - RED LINE BOOK FESTIVAL 2018!!

Killer Instincts  As part of the RED LINE BOOK FESTIVAL October 2018, this is an event not to be missed! Hosted by Sam Blake, this panel discussion features some of the top British and Irish writers in the genre, including yours truly!
Joining Sam will be acclaimed writer Sophie Hannah, whose books have achieved worldwide success, crime reporter turned author Cormac O’Keeffe (Black Water), best-selling writer of the Detective Lottie Parker series Patricia Gibney (The Missing Ones, No Safe Place) and Irish Crime Novel of the Year winner Louise Phillips (Me) (The Game Changer, Last Kiss, The Doll's House & Red Ribbons).

Sam Blake is a pseudonym for Vanessa Fox O’Loughlin, founder of The Inkwell Group publishing consultancy and the national writing resources website Writing.ie, as well as best- selling author in her own right.VENUE: Civic TheatreTIME: Sat 13 Oct, 8:00pmPRICE: €15/€12BOOK NOW

Homeless Hotel Film Update!!

I'm very proud to be associated with this upcoming film based on my short story, Homeless Hotel. Synopsis of Homeless Hotel Short Film: Emma, a homeless 7-year old girl, is placed in temporary accommodation within a hotel. Divided into two sections – one for guests, the other for the homeless, the hotel is used to accommodate those who do not have a home. After school one day, Emma needs the toilet, but it is out of order. When exploring, Emma finds a ventilation shaft entrance and climbs through to a world of extravagance and abundance. With the help of an insider, they begin tackling the biggest issue little Emma is confronted with. See Fundraising Video Link HERE

Crime Writers' Association Announces 2018 Shortlist!!

The Crime Writers’ Association has announced the 2018 shortlists for the Daggers awards!!


 The Crime Writers Association was established in 1953 by crime writer John Creasey. Each year, the Daggers are awarded across 10 categories. With the exception of the Diamond Dagger, the Debut Dagger and the Dagger in the Library, all the books are nominated by publishers.
The Diamond Dagger is awarded to an author who has made an outstanding contribution to crime fiction. The Diamond Dagger is nominated by the CWA members.
Bestselling author Michael Connelly was announced as the 2018 winner earlier this year. The rest of the winners will be announced at an award dinner in London on 25 October.
The CWA Gold Dagger 2018 Shortlist Author Title Publisher Steve Cavanagh The Liar Orion Mick Herron London Rules John Murray Dennis Lehane Since We Fell Little Brown Attica Locke Bluebird, Bluebird Serpent’s Tail Abir Mukherjee A Necessary Evil Harvill Secker Emma Viskic Resurrection Bay Pushkin Vertigo
The Ian Fleming Steel Dagger 2018 Shortlist Author Title Publisher Mick Herron London Rules John Murray Publishers Emily Koch If I Die Before I Wake Harvill Secker Attica Locke Bluebird, Bluebird Serpent’s Tail Colette McBeth An Act of Silence Wildfire C J Tudor The Chalk Man Michael Joseph Don Winslow The Force HarperFiction
The John Creasey Debut Dagger 2018 Shortlist Author Title Publisher William Boyle Gravesend No Exit Press Joe Ide I.Q. Weidenfeld & Nicolson Danya Kukafka Girl In Snow Picador Melissa Scrivner Love Lola Point Blank Khurrum Rahman East Of Hounslow HQ Emma Viskic Resurrection Bay Pushkin Vertigo
International Dagger 2018 Shortlist Title Author Translated by Publisher Zen and the Art of Murder Oliver Bottini Jamie Bulloch MacLehose Three Days and a Life Pierre Lemaitre Frank Wynne MacLehose After the Fire Henning Mankell Marlaine Delargy Harvill Secker The Frozen Woman Jon Michelet Don Bartlett No Exit Press Offering to the Storm Dolores Redondo Nick Caistor & Lorenza Garzía HarperCollins The Accordionist Fred Vargas Sian Reynolds Harvill Secker
Dagger In The Library 2018 Shortlist Martin Edwards Nicci French Edward Marston Peter May Rebecca Tope Simon Kernick
For Full List of Dagger Shortlist Visit  - https://thecwa.co.uk/the-daggers/

Some very good news!!

So, some very good news to share. I’ve now signed with Grainne Fox, Literary Agent with Fletcher & Company in New York. She is one of the top US Agents and is quoted as having a love for gorgeous writing, proper storytelling, and books that stimulate the mind and satisfy the heart. I’m over the moon to be working with her (apologies for the cliché), and to be joining such a formidable list of clients. Now back to editing!! :-)

Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year 2018 announced!!

Stav Sherez last night scooped the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award for The Intrusions.
Now in its fourteenth year, the Award is considered one of the most coveted crime writing prizes in the UK.

The Intrusions by Stav Sherez was a 2017 Guardian and Sunday Times book of the year, dubbed ‘A Silence of the Lambs for the internet age’ by Ian Rankin. The book was acclaimed by critics for its echoes of Emile Zola and influences from Graham Greene to Dostoyevsky.

Stav was presented the award by title sponsor Simon Theakston and broadcaster Mark Lawson at the opening night of the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival. 
Stav said: “I’m so shocked. Thank you so much for everyone who reads books, everyone who buys books, and talks about them. The world is full of hardships, but we have so much great stuff in culture and it means so much that there’s something to hide in.”
Stav talked about the inspiration of social media offering a new vein of storytelling and criminality.

“The Intrusions are the stuff we have all around us – all the static and scatter of TV and phones – everything is impinging on our consciousness and you don’t have time to think. So many great crime writers have come before us that have used all the great plots – Christie, James Ellroy – it’s good to have new criminality to deal with. But it’s not only criminality, the internet is affecting politics, it’s affecting elections, it affects us and our kids.”

Sherez beat off stiff competition from the shortlist of six, whittled down from a longlist of 18 crime novels published by UK and Irish authors whose novels were published in paperback from 1 May 2017 to 30 April 2018.
The 2018 Award is run in partnership with T&R Theakston Ltd, WHSmith, and The Mail on Sunday.

Stav Sherez collected a £3,000 cash prize, as well as a handmade, engraved oak beer cask made by Theakston Old Peculier.

The winner was decided by the panel of Judges, comprising literary and media figures chaired this year by Lee Child, alongside a public vote.

The Intrusions is structured around the lead character – Carrigan’s - visits to the hospital to visit his mother who suffered a stroke.

Stav said: “I didn’t know anyone who died from stroke, then a year into writing the book my dad had his first stroke, and I was in and out of hospital rewriting scenes I’d already imagined. Philip Roth in his book at his father’s death was shocked at himself writing notes, in a way it’s remembering the dead, making sure their stories are never lost, which is in a way what all literature is about.”

A special presentation was made to John Grisham - the winner of the ninth Theakston Old Peculier Outstanding Contribution to Crime Fiction Award.
Grisham joins Lee Child, Val McDermid, Sara Paretsky, Lynda La Plante, Ruth Rendell, PD James, Colin Dexter and Reginald Hill as recipients of the Award.

John Grisham said: “About twenty years ago I attended a Chelsea football match with my close friend and editor, Oliver Johnson.  Afterwards, we retired to a pub and I had my first pint of Theakston Old Peculier.  Others followed.  It’s my favourite beer in the world.” 

He added: “I want to thank you for your loyal readership over the years, because of you, the readers, people like myself and Lee Child are lucky enough to do what we do. Thank you very much.”

Title sponsor and executive director of T&R Theakston, Simon Theakston, said: “We’re particularly delighted to honour John Grisham. He is truly a giant of the genre, having sold 300 million books worldwide, with nine of his novels being adapted by Hollywood. His appearance at the Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival marks the first time he’s visited Yorkshire, something that will be remembered in Harrogate history for many years to come. The fact that he is a devotee of Old Peculier only adds to our delight!”

The shortlist in full:
Mick Herron, Spook StreetVal McDermid, Insidious IntentDenise Mina, The Long DropAbir Mukherjee, A Rising ManStav Sherez, The IntrusionsSusie Steiner, Persons Unknown

Fiction Extravaganza!!!

Event, Time & Date for the diary!!
An evening of reading from 'READING THE FUTURE' from Hodges Figgis 250 year anniversary anthology (Arlen House)
Date & Time: Thursday 26 July 2018 @ 6.30
Place: Hodges Figgis - Dawson Street
FREE EVENT
Readers:

Sam Blake, Gavin Corbett, Tanya Farrelly,Patricia Gibney, Paul Lynch,Niamh McBrannan, Louise Phillips & Kevin Power....

It should be a cracker of a night!!!

ALL WELCOME

Michigan State University Students at Trinity College!

This is going to be one of my favourite events over the next few weeks as a key note speaker to students from Michigan State University at Trinity College Dublin!!

The students are here from July 2 – August 12 focusing on literary & cultural studies, including the Kate Pearson series of novels!

Homeless Hotel adapted to film!!

I'm very happy to hear that my short story 'Homeless Hotel' (published in the Irish Times) will be adapted to film by a very talented team from the Arts University Bournemouth!!


You can read the short story HERE

Before there was Love Hate there was Emerald Noir!!

Strangely, this came up in my news feed today...

RTE Interview for Crime Novel of the Year ...

Apologies in advance for my ridiculous attempt to cover my braces, and the subsequent lack of clarity at times....

Before there was Love Hate there was Emerald Noir - Watch HERE


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