CrimeFest 3 – Life Without the Dull Bits

Top moments from CrimeFest 2018 panels.

Life With The Dull Bits Cut Out

Tom Harper
Olivia Kiernan
Stephanie Marland (aka Crime Thriller Girl)
Chris McGeorge

Moderator: Kevin Wignall

I love a panel where there are a few unexpected questions or quirky moments. With Kevin Wignall moderating, in his inimitable sunglasses, this is guaranteed. He kept it light, promising to throw in questions borrowed from readings he gives to teenagers.

On musical inspirations:

“I wrote it playing Simply Red in the background. Because that says, ‘Murder,’ right?” Stephanie Marland
On research:

“Some of the audience will know about the Silk Road, and a program called Tor that reroutes your IP address. Warning: this may be triggering.” Olivia Kiernan (goes on to talk about discovering the strange online world of those who obsessively know what it is like to die, for example to be stabbed)
On origins:

“Lost Cities of Gold, a TV series in the 1980s. I never saw the end of the series. This book is filling the gap.” Tom Harper
KW: “Have you met Harry Stiles?”
On geography:

“My next book is set in the Amazon. I haven’t been to Kew Gardens.” Kevin Wignall
KW: “Would you rather have penguin legs or kangaroo arms?”
On inspiration:

KW to CG: “We need to talk about your main character: a sociopath, on the spectrum, condescending, superior. Based on you?”

Advice for writers:

“Write the slow bits fast and the fast bits slow.”

“Keep it lean.”



“Try to be economical.”

“Always remember you’re telling a story.”

See you at next year’s CrimeFest.

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