My Time in Crime(fest)

 Ovidia--every other Tuesday

Given the 14 1/2 hour flight and 7 hour time difference between the UK and Singapore and because I haven't yet come down from the high of traveling again, this is going to be all about Crimefest and my time in the UK--

and look who I met there even before the conference started!

From left: Caro Ramsay, Cara Black, Stan Trollip and Zoe Sharp

Cara and Stan are two of the founding members and guiding lights of the Murder Is Everywhere blog and along with Caro and Zoe are people I've only known on the page and on screen up till now. But it felt like--no, not like meeting up with old friends--but like discovering long lost relatives, almost. 

I've noticed it before: you may not love (may not even have read) everything they've written, might not agree with some of the ways they commit murder, yet you instantly feel like you're accepted, because you're part of the same tribe.

There's something to be said for spilling all your blood on the page--in real life you can stick with coffee and vino and book talk...

...Though I'm not sure about Cara--who turned up at the gala dinner trying to disguise the fact she'd been painfully injured in what was probably a confrontation worthy of Kate Rees or Aimée Leduc by saying something about falling into an open crypt in a closed church... and the next day all the roads around our area were closed off by the police. They said it was the AJ Bell Great Bristol Run but what would you rather believe?

Cara and I were both on the Dark Times WW2 history panel, along with Chris Lloyd and Mark Ellis (far right), moderated by Luke McCallin (far left). 

That dark time feels very close now, given the worst ravages of WW2 and Covid covered roughly the same amount of time and territory on this planet. Just like there were toddlers at the end of the war who didn't know a world without air raid sirens, there are pre-schoolers now who've never known a world without masks.

I enjoyed the chance to meet some of my writing heroes at the humour too--

From left: Mike Ripley, me, Simon Brett (moderator), T.E. Kinsey and Peter Guttridge.

It was a special thrill to meet Simon Brett since his Mrs Pargeter and Charles Paris are two big reasons why I love mystery fiction! And the Mike Ripley (even more entertaining in real life than on the page) who, as an archaeologist, is 'one of the few crime writers who regularly turns up real bodies'!

It was a wonderful experience. The best part was knowing that pretty much everyone you meet is interested in the same things you are. Given how much of our time is spent solitary, staring at a page or screen, it was super to talk it over with others who spend their time pretty much the same way.

I got to talk (mostly, given how little I know) listen to talk about agents, ChatGPT, writer strikes in America, translations, indie publishing, political correctness and social norms, food and drink and books, books, books, books!

And I got to fangirl stalk and get physical books signed by Vaseem Khan and Martin Edwards, never mind I already had ebook versions of those same books on my reader!

Then it was over and I was back in London.

This is me with my lovely editor Krystyna Green on top of the Hachette Building (Carmelite House) on the Victoria Embankment--with some of the most incredible views of London. 

I was gleefully picking out landmarks but felt vaguely that something was off... and realised it was because there was no soundtrack. Because most of what I've seen of London has been on screen, there's always been a soundtrack when Buckingham Palace or the Tower Bridge or Westminster Abbey come into view. 

But reality is both quieter on the surface and much more vibrant beneath. 

Thank you, Krystyna, for making all this possible!

And finally, taking a little step towards a future project I'm keeping my fingers crossed will happen--a meeting with Christopher and Emma who introduced me to sticky toffee pudding.

 

Yes, the sticky toffee pudding was super. I definitely want more of that and I so definitely hope to be back in England again soon. 

Is anyone up for Crimefest 2024?

 

Scene of the CrimeFest.

Annamaria on Monday

Had I been in attendance at Crimefest this year, I am sure that today I would be posting happy descriptions of the festivities.  And praise for Zoe's stint as Toastrix.  That gig of hers was originally scheduled for 2020, and I was signed up to go, but...  (No explanation needed I am sure.)

In anticipation of my second trip to Bristol, I had even devised a Toastrix tiara for Zoe to wear. 

 Now that I have seen what she wore on Saturday evening, I know that glitzy crown would have gone very well her ensemble.  Alas, I am left with only vicarious enjoyment and bittersweet memories of my one and only Crimefest so far.  Here they are, along with Jeff's introduction of fortunate me on the Monday when I joined this merry tribe.

A bit of background and a brief introduction…

Martin Luther’s quotation, “I can do no other,” succinctly sums up our buddy Leighton Gage’s motivation for putting one hundred and ten percent into everything he writes.  No where is that pledge to his readers more evident than in his seven Mario Silva novels, called “top notch…controversial and entirely absorbing” by The New York Times and “a world class procedural series” by The Wall Street Journal. 

It is Leighton who by his example inspires each of us to bring our A-game to every MIE post, every day, every week.

Keep it fresh, keep it strong is Leighton’s motto, and that’s precisely what’s guided him to a decision we all deeply regret, but fully understand.  Leighton is a writing master who refuses to give his readers anything less than his absolute best work, something he believes he cannot do while confronting his current health problems.  He has decided to step down as a regular MIE contributor so that he may concentrate on his recovery efforts.  Our hopes and prayers are with Leighton and Eide and we look forward to seeing him back here with us soon.

Another Martin Luther quote comes to mind at this moment: "Even if I knew that the world would go to pieces, I would still plant my apple tree."

That, too, has Leighton written all over it, for even as he faces serious personal challenges he’s taken the time to plant a strong new tree in his Monday slot by personally selecting who shall occupy his place.  In the words of The Washington Post, Annamaria Alfieri writes exotic South American tales that “glitter” “as both history and mystery.” Her debut novel, City of Silver, was called by some “one of the best first novels of the year” (Deadly Pleasures Magazine) and her second, Invisible Country, was compared to “the notable novels of Charles Todd” (Kirkus Reviews).  Blood Tango (coming June 25, 2013 from St. Martin’s) is Annamaria’s latest novel and imagines the murder of an Evita Perón lookalike amid 1945 Buenos Aires.

Annamaria is a person of many talents, so much so that she needs two names.  As Patricia King she’s written five books on business subjects, including Never Work for a Jerk (featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show), and her current Monster Boss.  As Pat King, she’s also serving her second term as President of the New York City Chapter of Mystery Writers of America.

It is with great pleasure I welcome our new colleague, Annamaria Alfieri, to Murder is Everywhere.  We’re all proud, especially Leighton. - Jeff

CrimeFest Headquarters Hotel

As we say in New York, I didn’t know from Bristol. I had made a brief stop there years ago while touring the west of England, but true New Yorker that I am, all I did on that occasion was visit the Clifton Suspension Bridge, because I had heard it looked like the Brooklyn Bridge.  

Clifton Bridge

Brooklyn Bridge

It does, but without the cathedral-like quality, and definitely without Yonas Schimmel’s Knish Bakery within walking distance.   

So, while I was in the town for CrimeFest, before the Murder is Everywhere crowd arrived to buy me drinks, I took myself on a walking tour.  Threatening weather held at bay that Wednesday so I had a comfortable stroll, following the Michelin Green Guide itinerary, which started and ended just a few minutes from my hotel.

Warehouses converted into condos along the river

From the Norman Arch, my path skirted @Bristol, the science museum, and crossed Pero’s Bridge.  It’s a bascule bridge, a term I didn’t know.  It means the span moves, using counter weights, to open the channel for boat traffic.  In this case, the weights were designed to be modern sculptures.  

Norman Arch

Pero's Bridge

I was surprised to learn that the bridge was named after a slave, but then, on the other side of the canal, at the M Shed Museum, I learned of Bristol’s connection to the slave trade.  It turns out that though the town was first settled in the 10th Century and was England’s second largest city in the Middle Ages, it did not thrive economically until its 17th and 18th century residents made huge fortunes in the slave trade.   The museum’s exhibition, in its own form of counterbalancing, juxtaposes the slaving history with that of modern citizens’ political activism.

The Old Town Walk then took me through lovely Queen Square and along cobbled King Street with its 18th and 19th century warehouses, a 17th century alms house, and Llandoger Trow—a historic pub, where I stopped off for fish and chips.

Queen Square

King Street

The Llandoger Trow

The next monument was St. Stephen’s Church, with its beautiful tower.  On that Wednesday afternoon the way in was to go into a café and then through a door marked exit to find the sanctuary.  One of the memorials of local merchants was decorated with a jaunty modern addition.

St. Stephen's Tower

Ancient merchant remembered

Corn Street was once a precinct of traders and money exchangers, but now the building houses a collection of small stalls selling finger food and general touristy grot.

Corn Street

St. Nicholas Market

The Church of John the Baptist straddles a medieval gate of the city and has an interesting interior, but it can’t hold a candle to the grand finale of the tour—Bristol Cathedral.  There has been a church on its site for a thousand years.  The 14th Century English Gothic structure was first named for St. Augustine and renamed in the Reformation.   A sign over a donations box said it takes £2 per minute to maintain it.  I paid my share on my way out.

Bristol Cathedral

Bristol Cathedral interior

That evening, Michael phoned and ended my lonely rambling by inviting me to a delightful dinner with Bill and Toby Gottfried.  By Thursday, the others arrived and the festivities already reported here got underway.  It was my first CrimeFest.  I hope not miss it in the future.

Stanley, Annamaria, Jeff, Caro, Yrsa, Michael

Annamaria—Monday

 

long overdue...Bristol CrimeFest

Please excuse my missing-in-action absence. I'm finally home, have dealt with computer issues and can post photos of CrimeFest in Bristol. Such a great do put on by Adrian and Donna Moore! It was more than lovely to return after ten years and see the usual suspects!
PS Next week I'm on the road - book tour - for Murder in Bel-Air, celebrating twenty years of Aimée Leduc and her big book birthday.  If I'm anywhere near you please come by. Info at the end.

 Who do I see when I walk in the hotel? Jeff, Barbara, Zöe and John.

 I stopped by St. Stephen's market at Jeff's suggestion...

 Here's Caro's panel and she had them laughing.

 John kept his panelists in line.

 Grabbing a moment with Zöe

 Obligatory fish and chips - delicious

 My panel mates et moi

 Caro and Barbara

 Of course, Yrsa wore shoes that lit up

 Lovely Ely Griffiths who's nominated for mega awards

Dinner with Sarah Hilary, Jake Kerridge and pal Mick Herron.

Love to see you if you're anywhere nearby!

Cara - Tuesday

A Bristol-ing Good CrimeFest of a Time

The Scene of the CrimeFest

Saturday—Jeff

It’s after midnight Bristol UK time and I have a yet-to-begin blog due today…well, today EDT.  In other words, it’s improvise time. In part, I blame Caro for my shameful tardiness in getting to work on writing this post, because I was so dazzled by the pictorial beauty of her post yesterday, that I spent much of the day searching across Bristol for her Alnwich Castle. 

I shall now pause to allow all Harry Potter fans (and those familiar with UK geography) to guffaw and finger point at this foolish (and penitent) American.

Now that the laughter has subsided, permit me to show you just a bit of the Bristol I discovered, and of the events and sort of folk I did manage to stumble across on this 10^th Anniversary of CrimeFest.  It's been fabulous.

The St. Nicholas Market:

 Elsewhere around the neighborhood

The Business side of things:

Now on to the fun people times:

And for those looking for information on certain nuptials taking place this weekend....inquire within:

—Jeff