Louise Phillips's Blog, page 28

An Impressive Shortlist of Six for the Theakston Old Peculiar Crime Novel of the Year Award 2016!!

The shortlist for crime writing’s accolade, the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year, has been announced.Celebrating its twelfth year, the Awards feature six titles whittled down from a longlist of 18 crime novels published by British and Irish authors whose novels were published in paperback from 1 May 2015 to 18 April 2016.The 2016 Award is run in partnership with T&R Theakston Ltd, WHSmith, and The Radio Times.The shortlist in full:Time Of Death – Mark BillinghamCareer Of Evil – Robert GalbraithTell No Tales – Eva DolanDisclaimer – Renee KnightI Let You Go – Clare MackintoshRain Dogs – Adrian McKintyThe award ceremony will be hosted by broadcaster Mark Lawson on 21 July on the opening night of the 14th Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate.Executive Director of T&R Theakston Ltd and Judge, Simon Theakston, said: “It’s a remarkable shortlist that shows the crime genre shapes our cultural landscape and dominates publishing.”Congrats to all on the Shortlist, but special congrats to Irish author Adrian McKinty whose latest novel Rain Dogs has been receiving mighty accolades!!!

Rain Dogs has been shortlisted for the 2016 Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award and longlisted for the CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger Award 2016. Previous books in the Duffy series have won or been shortlisted for the Ned Kelly Award, The Edgar Award, The Anthony Award, The Spinetingler Award and The Barry Award.


McKinty has all the virtues: smart dialogue, sharp plotting, great sense of place, well-rounded characters and a nice line in what might be called cynical lyricism ("Rain. Wind. The afternoon withering like a piece of fruit in an Ulster pantry.") If Duffy's relentless patter occasionally makes you feel like you're trapped in a lift with a stand-up comedian, well, those dreary steeples cry out for a little antic distraction. Be warned, though. Rain Dogs is Gateway
McKinty: you won't stop here.
- The Irish Times

Challenged with the second locked-room -- locked-castle really -- mystery of his career, Duffy pursues answers in his usual manner: resolute and incisive until every aspect and angle of the truth shakes out. He is pleasurably full of quips, wry and dry, observing his Daisy-Dukes-sporting neighbor "smoking Benson and Hedges in a way that would have cheered the heart of the head of marketing at Philip Morris," and telling Lawson that their aggravating colleague, Frank Payne, is "as fine an example of nominative determinism as you'll ever get." McKinty captures the mood and flavor of a city perpetually under siege, the life of a detective during wartime [and he] also excels at scene-grabbing set pieces: this novel opens on a terrific one with a massive crowd -- including Bono -- fixated on a visit from Muhammad Ali. McKinty's decision to expand the series beyond the original trilogy has breathed new energy and vigor into his novels: Duffy's not just growing naturally into this larger space, he's taking us right along with him.
- The Boston Globe 

Adrian McKinty is on a roll. His last novel in the Sean Duffy series set during the Troubles in Northern Ireland, Gun Street Girl, has been shortlisted for an Edgar award by the Mystery Writers of America. The latest, Rain Dogs, does not disappoint. The dark humour, the verbal jests, and the seamless insertion of real historical figures and events into the fictional narrative are all superbly sustained...This is clever historical fiction with the bite of social commentary and the joy of a crime series at its zenith.
- The Sydney Morning Herald 

The tension between McKinty's competing love of tight, formal puzzles and loose, riffing dialogue is what makes the Duffy novels such a tremendous joy.
- The Guardian

A classic plot with modern twists...[another] thoroughly engaging crime novel set in Northern Ireland
- The Sunday Times

Last Day to Vote!!!

Today is the LAST DAY to vote in the Dead Good Awards, if you fancy casting your vote. 

The first category is for a series of books, i.e. The Kate Pearson series (hint, hint) and the other categories are for individuals books.

You could win £200 worth of book vouchers, and that can't be too bad!!

Thanks to everyone who voted so far - it's very much appreciated!! 

I will go now and be very quiet......

You can vote HERE

Emerald Noir - Louise Phillips & Paul Perry chat with Nessa O' Mahony!!

Put on the kettle, make a cuppa and tune into this interview with myself, Paul Perry and the wonderful Nessa O'Mahony, where two crime fiction authors chat about all things writing, especially crime fiction writing. Plus, you get a sneak preview of 'Girl Unknown' by Karen Perry (writing duo Karen Gillece and Paul Perry) and 'After I was Killed' my latest novel. I hope you enjoy it!

Click on link here to view....http://theatticsessions.tv/emerald-no...

Thanks!

Crimefest and my Crime Tribe!

If you were staying at the Bristol Marriott Hotel over the weekend, you could be forgiven for thinking you were a delegate at a Star Wars convention, such were the throngs of people bustling through the hotel, each armed with name badges and looking wildly enthusiastic. But it wasn’t Star Wars, it was Crimefest, the international crime fiction convention held in Bristol every May.
With record numbers this year, the festival attracted writers, readers, editors, agents, publishers and bloggers from all over the globe, and with a strong Irish contingent, it has become a date for the diary.
‘Crimefest is an event where I can have breakfast with an Australia author, coffee with an American reader, and at the Gala Dinner, present an award to a Scandinavian writer,’ says Sarah Ward, one of the judges of the Petrona Award. ‘It’s the highlight of my crime fiction year.’


But what actually happens at this festival over four days in May? You have the headline acts, internationally acclaimed writers like Ian Rankin, Anne Holt, Peter James and Hugh Fraser, all willing to share nuggets of their writing process and success, and also happy to chat with delegates during panel intervals, while copious amounts of tea and coffee are drunk.
(Ian Rankin with Patricia Gibney)
Ayo Onatade, Special Crime Reporter at Shots Ezine and associate member of The Crime Writers Association (CWA), puts the success of the convention down to the laid back and fun approach, as well as the panels being well organised. ‘It’s often difficult to decide which panel to attend. Everyone enjoys themselves and there is no demarcation between authors that are taking part, readers, fans, and bloggers who are there. It’s not elitist.’
And that’s the thing about Crimefest that makes it different. You could be chatting to a fellow writer or friend one moment, then find yourself talking all things crime fiction with publishers, agents and editors from around the world, and there are plenty of buzzing conversations with the sharing of contact details - another reason why so many delegates visit each year.
Author C. L. Taylor, familiar to many Irish readers agrees, describing Crimefest as an opportunity to connect with readers and her crime tribe. ‘Many of my friends live hundreds of miles away and it’s often the only chance I get to see them.’
But outside of the many conversations between readers, writers and publishing folk, lots happen here other than panels and headline acts. Along with panels covering everything from Creating Complex Characters to the Psychology of Thrills, there are workshops, quizzes, pitching an agent slots, and one off events - including the re-enactment of the Steve Avery trial (Making a Murder), with Irish author and lawyer, Steve Cavanagh, and Sophie Hannah as Judge.
The Crimefest Awards saw Stephen King, Ian Rankin, Paula Hawkins, Robert Galbraith and Linwood Barclay, compete for victory, whilst the longlists for the CWA Dagger Awards were also announced at the festival. Among them were Irish writers, John Connolly, Jax Miller, Adrian McKinty, William Shaw and yours truly.

Dublin-based crime authors, Paul Perry and Karen Gillece, writing under the pen name, Karen Perry, were both panel members and moderators. Paul says, ‘Crimefest is a great festival where crime writers from around the world meet. Karen and I were on a panel on Thursday called Writing Duos: How Not To Come To Blows When You’re Both Writing The Same Book. Then on Saturday, I moderated Sending Shivers Down The Spine with A.K. Benedict, Jenny Blackhurst, Mason Cross and Kate Ellis. I loved the easy going atmosphere, with time to discuss and share a love of crime writing.’
However, you can’t discuss Crimefest without talking about Bristol. A city, ranked fifth in the U.K., with its riverside cafes and bars, weekend markets and buzzing atmosphere (even on rainy afternoons). It has an appeal all of its own. As crime fiction enthusiasts gathered on the stone steps of the Marriot, amid stunning architecture and cathedrals, with the waterfront only metres away, teenagers played on skateboards in the communal areas, and you got the feeling you were in a city comfortable with itself. Early Banksy art can also be found in the city of his birth, pieces created when he was seen as another kid with a can of spray paint in his hand.


So whether you sign up for a one-day or full weekend pass at Crimefest, you will be transported into a hub of crime fiction, together with festival goody bag and mock syringe pen. Last word of advice, if the popularity of this festival continues – Book early!

DEAD GOOD - Please vote!

Apologies for looking for support again, but it all helps! If you enjoyed the novels to date, I'm hoping you won't mind. In 5 days the nominations for The Dead Good Reader Awards close - if you vote, you could win £200's worth of books!You can put the Dr Kate Pearson series in for the 'Tess Gerritsen Award for Best Series' and any of the individual novels (Red Ribbons, The Doll's House, Last Kiss, The Game Changer) in any of the other categories. THANK YOU in advance!VOTE HERE

Edge of their seats!!!

Thrilled to read this review of The Game Changer in the Sunday Independent….
“The intensely personal nature of the malice that runs through this novel will keep familiar and new introductions alike on the edge of their seat throughout, as Pearson is forced to make a deeply traumatic journey of her own to uncover the truth…” 
To Read Full Review Visit HERE

Hiding Between the Covers!

Thank you Brian (aka K19) and top reader, for sending this pic from India!

So far he has sent pics with books from the Great Wall of China, the Blue Mosque in Istanbul and now with the Taj Mahal in India!

I wish I could hide within those covers!! :-)

So excited.....CWA Dagger Award Longlist!!!

I am home from Crimefest Bristol and I'm thrilled to have made the longlist for the CWA DAGGER IN THE LIBRARY AWARD 2016! 

The award is for a body of work, which makes it extra extra special! Also congrats to fellow Irish Authors Adrian McKinty, Jax Miller and John Connolly, longlisted in other categories.....

See full longlist here...http://wwwshotsmagcouk.blogspot.ie/…/cwa-dagger-long-lists.…

Sometimes your heart does a little skip....

Sometimes your heart does a little skip of joy when you get emails like this......

"Dear Louise, I am writing to you to say thank you for such wonderful books, I've just finished the game changer, I couldn't put it down and it's one of my favourite books ever. I'm onto Red ribbons now (have to go backwards!!) and it's another one I can't put down!! I've passed the game changer onto a friend and I know she hasn't left the sofa for 2 days reading it

Research, research.....

Today's print outs for research!!! #novel5