Detective Stories and Lectures

I'm typing this at the airport, on my way to Germany for the KIBUM Festival of Children's Literature in Oldenburg. This'll be my second day of events in the last week - last Friday I had a great morning at the Hemel Hempstead School. In addition to talking about my books I also did a workshop about detective stories. Discussed the rules of the genre, then got the students to write some of their own… Terrific work. I'm always amazed how much wonderful writing comes pouring out when you just sit down and go for it.

Pleased also to finally put my Patrick Hardy lecture up online (see News page). I guess essays are short stories of a different kind - the adventures of an idea…