I spent the weekend at CrimeFest, the new crime fiction festival in Bristol. I moderated a panel on women in crime fiction and spoke on another about thriller writing. Best of all was getting to meet readers, other authors, editors, and journalists — including some people I’ve only known until now through e-mail or this blog.
A few photos. Apologies for the quality of the shots… this is a writer’s blog.
The Marriott on College Green, where the conference was held.
Jeff Lindsay — a very funny guy, especially considering he writes the Dexter novels.
Ian Rankin, who — despite being introduced by Toastrix Natasha Cooper, in her best Scots burr, as “that man in a skirt” — did not arrive from Edinburgh wearing a kilt.
Me with conference director Adrian Muller, his wife Jen of Poisoned Pen Press, and Laurie R. King.
With Maxine Clark, the formidable blogger behind Petrona.
It was a wonderful time. Now we’re home and watching Bullitt. A great way to end the weekend, and to start a week where I’m off to San Francisco.
UPDATE: I’m too preoccupied with folding laundry and packing for my U.S. trip to do CrimeFest justice. For a much more thorough account of the weekend, check out Laurie R. King’s entertaining recaps.
UPDATE 2: More at Petrona.
6 responses so far ↓
Dan // June 8, 2008 at 9:06 pm
Very cool, Meg. It looks like a thriller reader’s Mecca.
I’m a fan of Jeff Lindsay’s “Dexter” series and I’m looking forward to his next novel. Was his wife, Hilary Hemingway, in attendance also?
Kerrie // June 9, 2008 at 12:16 am
I came across your blog Meg through a Google Alert that I have running. Crime Fest sounds great. Glad you met up with Maxine - we meet in cyberspace. Some other bloggers that I track also said they were going to be there.
Meg // June 9, 2008 at 6:55 am
G’day, Kerrie — thanks for making a virtual visit from Adelaide. Keep up the Sunday Salon; it’s a great resource.
Snart // June 9, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Meg, Jeff Lindsay was part of my older brother’s theater troupe in the late 1970s, early 1980s, before he started writing the Dexter novels. He’s a talented guy and, boy, has Dexter taken off here. I’ve got tapes of Jeff and some of the troupe singing some of their (very weird) original songs from way back when. Great to see his photo.
Meg // June 9, 2008 at 4:48 pm
Damn, Snart — Lindsay mentioned his theater troupe during his talk, and something about what he said made me wonder whether he had worked with your brother. I should have asked him!
maxine // June 9, 2008 at 9:15 pm
Hi Meg, you get my vote as best Woman Panellist, Funniest Woman Writer, Best Woman With Husband Who Is Able To Take Pic of Petrona Without Her Cracking Glass In Camera, Woman With Best Husband, etc.
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