Multiple chances to see Jo Nesbo in New Zealand next March

Earlier this month I shared the terrific news that Norwegian crime writing superstar Jo Nesbo would one of the authors appearing in Wellington in March next year as part of the the 2012 New Zealand Arts Festival's "Writers and Readers Week". That should be a fantastic festival, filled with terrific event showcasing several other crime writers (including Denise Mina, and some yet-to-be-announced New Zealand authors) and other interesting authors. Nesbo is visiting New Zealand to promote his new Harry Hole thriller, PHANTOM, as well as the release of the film adaptation of his standalone thriller HEADHUNTERS.

Now, I'm very pleased to reveal that Nesbo not just be visiting Wellington, but in fact will be doing multiple events around New Zealand in March 2012, allowing many keen crime readers an opportunity to meet this talented storyteller. According to his publisher, Random House, who are "delighted" about his visit, there will be a Nesbo event and movie premiere held on the same evening in each of the following locations:

• Tuesday, 6 March - AUCKLAND
• Wednesday, 7 March - CHRISTCHURCH
• Thursday, 8 March - WANAKA
• Saturday, 10 March – WELLINGTON (presented as part of the New Zealand International Arts Festival)

Further details about each event will be announced in due course. But for now, it's just great to see that plenty of people will get a chance to meet Nesbo. It's really good to see international crime writers of his and Mina's calibre coming all the way down here to New Zealand, promoting the genre, and supporting our burgeoning crime fiction scene.

THE PHANTOM will be released in New Zealand on 3 February, and marks the return of Nesbo's popular detective Harry Hole. Here's the publisher's blurb:

Summer. A boy is lying on the floor of an Oslo apartment. He is bleeding and will soon die. In order to place his life and death in some kind of context he begins to tell his story. Outside, the church bells toll.

Autumn. Former police inspector Harry Hole returns to Oslo after three years abroad. He seeks out his old boss at Police Headquarters to request permission to investigate a homicide.

But the case is already closed: the young junkie was in all likelihood shot dead by a fellow addict. Yet, Harry is granted permission to visit the boy’s alleged killer in jail. There, he meets himself and his own history. What follows is the solitary investigation of what appears to be the first impossible case in Harry Hole’s career. And while Harry is searching, the murdered boy continues his story.

A man walks the dark streets of Oslo. The streets are his and he has always been there. He is a phantom.
 
Have you read any of Jo Nesbo's thrillers? What do you think of Harry Hole as a 'hero'? Are you looking forward to the film adaptation of HEADHUNTERS?

Kiwi crime queen Vanda Symon tours the West Coast

As I noted several days ago, acclaimed Kiwi crime queen Vanda Symon was heading this past week to the wild West Coast for several New Zealand Book Month events at libraries and schools in Hokitika, Greymouth, and Westport. It's great to see local crime writers getting out and about for events like this, and meeting readers.

Symon reports on her West Coast tour at her blog, Overkill, here. Symon's latest Sam Shephard tale, BOUND, debuted at the #1 spot earlier this year, and has remained on the NZ bestseller list since, which is great news. It's good to see Kiwi readers giving tales from our own crime writers a go. Hopefully more and more people will continue to discover Symon and her terrific heroine Sam Shephard. I'm sure they won't be disappointed.

BOUND was one of my 'crime picks' in February for my regular column in the Herald on Sunday. Here's what I had to say:

"A leading light amongst the recent surge in quality Kiwi crime fiction, Vanda Symon kick-starts her latest thrilling tale with a brutal home invasion; a dodgy businessman is shot gunned, his wife nearly chokes to death on a gag. Feisty heroine Sam Shephard’s Dunedin CID colleagues zero in on two lowlifes suspected of an earlier cop killing, but she’s uneasy, and keeps investigating. Excellent storytelling with real verve and energy, starring one of the most enjoyably readable heroines on the crime fiction scene."

Weeks later, I still stand by that final comment. I can think of very few crime fiction heroines that I enjoy reading, book-in, book-out, more than Sam Shephard. Symon is a world class crime writer that the wider world just hasn't found out about yet.

Vanda Symon tours the West Coast next week

As part of the New Zealand Book Month celebrations, acclaimed Kiwi crime queen Vanda Symon (whose latest Sam Shephard tale, BOUND, debuted at the #1 spot earlier this year, and has remained on the NZ bestseller list since) will be touring the West Coast next week.

Symon will be giving a series of author talks at local libraries.

It's great to see our local crime writers getting out and talking directly with readers, and I'm sure that those who head along to any of Symon's events will have a terrific time - as all of us who attended last year's Whodunnit and Whowunnit event in Christchurch (where Symon, along with Paul Cleave and Neil Cross, spoke) did.

Here are the event details for Symon's West Coast tour:

VENUE: Westland District Library, Hokitika.
DATE: 28th March
TIME: 5.45pm - 6.45pm

VENUE: Grey District Library, Greymouth
DATE: 29th March
TIME: 3.00pm - 4.00pm

VENUE: Buller District Library, Westport
DATE: 30th March
TIME: 1.00pm - 2.00pm

You can read my recent feature article on Vanda Symon for the Weekend Herald here, and Symon's 9mm interview with Crime Watch here.

Award-winning British crime writer RJ Ellory kicks off New Zealand at Takapuna Library tonight

The Takapuna Library has once again become crime fiction central lately. Following the packed-out event with Peter James last week, tonight 2010 Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award winner RJ Ellory is appearing over on 'the Shore'. It should be another fantastic event, run by Helen Woodhouse and her excellent team there.

Tonight's event in Takapuna is the first of five public events RJ Ellory is doing in four New Zealand cities over the next three days, in support of the recent release of his latest novel, SAINTS OF NEW YORK.

I am looking forward to meeting Ellory today - he sounds like a fascinating guy. He certainly has an interesting pre-publication history: Six years. Twenty two rejected novels. More than four hundred ‘thanks, but no thanks’ letters from over a hundred publishers. Finally, his persistence paid off when his first published novel, CANDLEMOTH, hit the shelves in 2004. This lead the way for another seven novels, including his bestseller, A QUIET BELIEF IN ANGELS, which won a number of prestigious prizes.

His tenacity to succeed could be attributed to the turmoil of his childhood. Abandoned by his father at birth, Ellory was sent to boarding school at seven years of age, after the death of his mother left him and his brother orphaned and alone. By seventeen, Ellory was experiencing life on the wrong side of the law, after he was caught poaching chickens.


See him at the following public events...

Wednesday September 8 – AUCKLAND

Takapuna Paper Plus presents RJ Ellory at Takapuna Library
6pm for light refreshments, 6.30pm start
Takapuna Public Library, The Strand, Takapuna
$5.00 (Friends of the Library $2)
RSVP: email helenw@shorelibraries.govt.nz or phone Helen Woodhouse 486-8469

Thursday September 9 – NELSON & WELLINGTON

Page & Blackmore Booksellers present RJ Ellory at Nelson Library
12pm – 1pm
Activity Room, Elma Turner Library
Free
For more information: email info@pageandblackmore.co.nz or phone 03 548 9992

Meet the Author Event at Marsden Books
5.30pm
Marsden Books, 159 Karori Rd, Wellington
Free
RSVP: marsdenbooks@kauri.co.nz or 04 476 8066

Friday September 10 – DUNEDIN

RJ Ellory at Mosgiel Library
3.30pm – 4.30pm
Mosgiel Library, 7 Harstonge St
Free
Bookings: email library@dcc.govt.nz or phone 03 474 3690 (ticket collection Mosgiel Library)

RJ Ellory at Dunedin City Library
5.30pm
Level 4, Dunedin City Library, 230 Moray Place
Free
Bookings: email library@dcc.govt.nz or phone 03 474 3690 (ticket collection City Library)

For more information contact Orion Publicist Gemma Finlaygemmaf@hachette.co.nz / 09 478 1033

I will be meeting Ellory in Auckland. I'm very much looking forward to meeting Ellory in person, having heard great things about him and his books. I am about to start SAINTS OF NEW YORK, and also have a copy of THE ANNIVERSARY MAN. I'll make sure I grab him for a quick 9mm interview too, and share that with you all here on Crime Watch.

Have you read any of RJ Ellory's work? What do you think of him winning the Theakston? Are you looking forward to SAINTS OF NEW YORK? Are you going to head along to any of his events in New Zealand tour stops? Thoughts and comments welcome.

Reminder: Cartier Diamond Dagger recipient Val McDermid touring New Zealand over the next four days

Just a quick reminder that 2010 CWA Cartier Diamond Dagger recipient Val McDermid will be touring New Zealand over the next few days, in support of her latest thriller TRICK OF THE DARK. McDermid is appearing in all four main centres; Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin.

McDermid has written dozens of bestsellers, sold more than 10 million books, won and been shortlisted for many awards (including winning the prestigious CWA Gold Dagger for THE MERMAIDS SINGING, and also winning the LA Times Book of the Year Award and the Stonewall Writer of the Year Award), and had her stories adapted into acclaimed TV shows like Place of Execution and Wire in the Blood. In 2009 she was also inducted into the Hall of Fame at the ITV3 Specsavers Crime Thriller Awards.

McDermid's first event is tomorrow (Saturday) in Dunedin, and then she will be appearing in Christchurch, Wellington, then finishing in Auckland on Tuesday evening. For those in the upper North Island, grab a copy of tomorrow's Weekend Herald to read my interview with McDermid (note - my feature will be in the Arts pages of the main newspaper, rather than in the Canvas magazine, this time).

You can see McDermid at the following public events:

Saturday 21 August, 5.30pm – Dunedin

The Centre for Irish and Scottish Studies at the University of Otago and the Otago Settlers Museum are pleased to host an event with Val McDermid

The Otago Settlers Museum,

31 Queens Gardens, Dunedin.

Free ticketed event.

Tickets available from The University Book Shop and The Otago Settlers Museum.

As an aside - this Dunedin event features McDermid in conversation with Scots-turned-Kiwi thriller writer Liam McIlvanney (author of the excellent ALL THE COLOURS OF THE TOWN), so that should be fantastic for those of you in the deep south.

Sunday 22 August, 4.30pm – Christchurch (EVENT SOLD OUT!)

An evening with Val McDermid in conjunction with Plains FM

Our City O-Tautahi,

Oxford Terrace, Christchurch

Monday 23 August, 6.00pm – Wellington

Rainbow Wellington Event in conjunction with Unity Books

Unity Books,

57 Willis Street, Wellington

$10 for members $15 for non-members for entry, free nibbles and two free drinks.

Pay at the door.

Please note: McDermid is one of ten speakers at the anuual Rainbow Wgtn Book Review Night at Unity Books. She will speak in response to the review for her new book TRICK OF THE DARK. After that everyone will break for a wine and she will sign copies of her book. The annual Rainbow Book Review night celebrates new books by LGBTI (lesbian, gay, bi, trans /intersex) authors.

Tuesday 24 August, 6.00pm – Auckland

An evening with Val McDermid at The Women’s Bookshop

105 Ponsonby Road, Auckland

Entry $5 at the door.

RSVP (for catering purposes) to: (09) 376 4399, email books@womensbookshops.co.nz or secure website: http://www.womensbookshop.co.nz/

Personally I will be heading along to this latter Auckland event. I'm very much looking forward to meeting McDermid in person, having had a fantastic phone interview with her recently. It should be a lot of fun at her events.

I've also just recently finished reading TRICK OF THE DARK, which I really enjoyed. You can read an extract from TRICK OF THE DARK here.

So, what do you think of McDermid's dark crime novels? Are you a fan of 'Tartan Noir'? Have you watched the Wire in the Blood TV series? Will you head along to one of her events here in New Zealand? Thoughts and comments welcome.

UK #1 bestseller Peter James in New Zealand this month!

When it rains, it pours, as they say. There are now six major international crime and thriller writers heading to New Zealand shores in the next few weeks - along with Simon Kernick and Michael Robotham, who will be appearing at The Press Christchurch Writers' Festival, 2010 Theakstons award winner RJ Ellory and 2010 CWA Cartier Diamond Dagger recipient Val McDermid are also touring in August and September, and now news is filtering through that another two big-name bestsellers from overseas will be here in August as well.

Peter James, the award-winning author of the Roy Grace series - the latest of which, DEAD LIKE YOU jumped straight to #1 on the UK Sunday Times bestseller list on its first week of publication earlier this year - will be in New Zealand on 30 and 31 August. Event details have not yet been confirmed, but I understand James will be appearing at a public event in Takapuna (Auckland's North Shore) on the evening of Tuesday 31 August. I will bring you more details as soon as they come to hand.

In an interesting aside, when DEAD LIKE YOU shot straight to the top of the UK charts, it was reportedly the first time in several years that that master of mystery writing marketing, James Patterson, was prevented from going straight to #1 with his latest book.

In DEAD LIKE YOU, the sixth in the award-winning Detective Superintendant Roy Grace series set in James's hometown of Brighton, a woman is brutally raped as she returns to her room at the Metropole Hotel after a New Years' Eve ball. A week later, another woman is attacked. Both victims’ shoes are taken by the offender . . .

Roy Grace soon realises that these new cases bear remarkable similarities to an unsolved series of crimes in the city back in 1997. The perpetrator had been dubbed ‘Shoe Man’ and was believed to have raped five women before murdering his sixth victim and vanishing. Could this be a copycat, or has Shoe Man resurfaced?

When more women are assaulted, Grace becomes increasingly certain that they are dealing with the same man. And that by delving back into the past - a time in which we see Grace and his missing wife Sandy still apparently happy together - he may find the key to unlocking the current mystery. Soon Grace and his team will find themselves in a desperate race against the clock to identify and save the life of the new sixth victim . .

Are you a Peter James fan? Will you be keen to see him in New Zealand? Have you read any of his Roy Grace books, or his earlier spy thrillers and paranormal work (that saw him called the 'British Stephen King' at one point)? Thoughts and comments welcome.

Theakston Award winner RJ Ellory's Kiwi tour itinerary

Further to my post back in May revealing that acclaimed British crime writer RJ Ellory would be heading to New Zealand in September in suppoer of his upcoming novel THE SAINTS OF NEW YORK, the full schedule for Ellory's visit has now been released. And in great news for crime fiction fans around the country, Ellory will be making five public appearances in four different Kiwi cities; Auckland, Wellington, Nelson, and Dunedin.

Ellory, who was orphaned as a young boy, later spent time in jail for poaching, became a rock guitarist, wrote 22 unpublished novels in longhand before he was first published, and now has published seven novels. His New Zealand tour is in support of his upcoming book, THE SAINTS OF NEW YORK. Already Ellory's books have won or been shortlisted for several major crime fiction awards, including the CWA Steel Dagger for Best Thriller (shortlisted twice), the CWA Dagger in the Library, and the Barry Award for Best British Crime Fiction (shortlisted twice). And just last month Ellory won the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Award, for his novel A SIMPLE ACT OF VIOLENCE, at the recent Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate.

Ellory will be in New Zealand from 8-10 September. You can see him at the following public events:

Wednesday September 8 – AUCKLAND

Takapuna Paper Plus presents RJ Ellory at Takapuna Library
Time: 6pm for light refreshments, 6.30pm start
Takapuna Public Library,
The Strand, Takapuna
Cost: $5.00 (Friends of the Library $2)
RSVP: email helenw@shorelibraries.govt.nz or phone Helen Woodhouse 486-8469

Thursday September 9 – NELSON & WELLINGTON
Page & Blackmore Booksellers present RJ Ellory at Nelson Library
Time: 12pm – 1pm
Activity Room,
Elma Turner Library
Cost: Free
For more information: email info@pageandblcokmore.co.nz or phone 03 548 9992

Meet the Author Event at Marsden Books
Time: 5.30pm
Marsden Books,
159 Karori Rd, Wellington
Cost: Free
RSVP: by September 2, marsdenbooks@kauri.co.nz or 04 476 8066

Friday September 10 – DUNEDIN

RJ Ellory at Mosgiel Library
Time: 3.30pm – 4.30pm
Mosgiel Library
7 Harstonge St
Cost: Free
Bookings: email library@dcc.govt.nz or phone 03 474 3690 (ticket collection Mosgiel Library)

RJ Ellory at Dunedin City Library
Time: 5.30pm
Lvl 4, Dunedin City Library,
230 Moray Place
Cost: Fee
Bookings: email library@dcc.govt.nz or phone 03 474 3690 (ticket collection City Library)

For more information contact Orion Publicist Gemma Finlay
gemmaf@hachette.co.nz / 09 478 1033

I will be heading along to the Auckland event. I'm very much looking forward to meeting Ellory in person, having heard great things about him and his books. I am about to start SAINTS OF NEW YORK, and also have a copy of THE ANNIVERSARY MAN. I'll make sure I grab him for a quick 9mm interview too, and share that with you all here on Crime Watch.

Have you read any of RJ Ellory's work? What do you think of him winning the Theakston? Are you looking forward to THE SAINTS OF NEW YORK? Are you going to head along to any of his events in New Zealand (or Australia and other tour stops)? Thoughts and comments welcome.

Great News: Diamond Dagger recipient Val McDermid to visit four New Zealand cities this month

Further to my post from last month revealing that 2010 CWA Cartier Diamond Dagger recipient Val McDermid would be touring New Zealand in late August, including public events in Auckland and Christchurch, in support of her latest thriller TRICK OF THE DARK, the full schedule for McDermid's visit has now been released. And in good news for crime fiction fans around the country, McDermid is appearing in all four main centres; Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin.

McDermid has written dozens of bestsellers, sold more than 10 million books, won and been shortlisted for many awards (including winning the prestigious CWA Gold Dagger for THE MERMAIDS SINGING, and also winning the LA Times Book of the Year Award and the Stonewall Writer of the Year Award), and had her stories adapted into acclaimed TV shows like Place of Execution and Wire in the Blood. In 2009 she was also inducted into the Hall of Fame at the ITV3 Specsavers Crime Thriller Awards.

She will be in New Zealand from 21-24 August. You can see her at the following public events:

See her at the following public events:

Saturday 21 August, 5.30pm – Dunedin
The Centre for Irish and Scottish Studies at the University of Otago and the Otago Settlers Museum are pleased to host an event with Val McDermid
The Otago Settlers Museum,
31 Queens Gardens, Dunedin.
Free ticketed event.
Tickets available from The University Book Shop and The Otago Settlers Museum.

Sunday 22 August, 4.30pm – Christchurch
An evening with Val McDermid in conjunction with Plains FM
Our City O-Tautahi,
Oxford Terrace, Christchurch
Tickets $12.
Contact Ruth on (03) 384 4721 or Morrin on (03) 329 9789

Monday 23 August, 6.00pm – Wellington
Rainbow Wellington Event in conjunction with Unity Books
Unity Books,
57 Willis Street, Wellington
$10 for members $15 for non-members for entry, free nibbles and two free drinks.
Pay at the door.

Tuesday 24 August, 6.00pm – Auckland
An evening with Val McDermid at The Women’s Bookshop
105 Ponsonby Road, Auckland
Entry $5 at the door.
RSVP (for catering purposes) to: (09) 376 4399, email books@womensbookshops.co.nz or secure website: http://www.womensbookshop.co.nz/

The Dunedin event features McDermid in conversation with Scots-turned-Kiwi thriller writer Liam McIlvanney, so that should be fantastic for those of you in the deep south.

I will be heading along to the Auckland event. I'm very much looking forward to meeting McDermid in person, having had a fantastic phone interview with her recently (there will be an article coming out in the Weekend Herald the weekend she arrives, as well as a 9mm interview published here on Crime Watch). She comes across as very smart, opionionated, and open - unafraid to 'talk straight', she's blunt and boisterous. A great combo. Should be a lot of fun at her events. I've also just recently finished reading TRICK OF THE DARK, which I really enjoyed.

You can read an extract from TRICK OF THE DARK here.

So, what do you think of McDermid's dark crime novels? Are you a fan of 'Tartan Noir'? Have you watched the Wire in the Blood TV series? Will you head along to one of her events here in NZ? Thoughts and comments welcome.

Peter Robinson, Inspector Banks, and BAD BOY

Phew! I've been on a bit of a run of big-name author interviews lately. Following my recent interview with James Lee Burke (for the article published in last weekend's Canvas magazine), on Friday I interviewed 2010 CWA Cartier Diamond Dagger recipient Val McDermid, and yesterday I interviewed multiple Ned Kelly Award winner Michael Robotham - both of who are visiting New Zealand in the coming weeks.

Tonight (in about three hours) I'm interviewing another 'heavy hitter' of the crime fiction world; Peter Robinson, creator of the beloved hero, Inspector Banks. Robinson is also touring Australia and New Zealand in August, in support of his latest Banks novel, BAD BOY, which is about to be released. I will have more about his NZ tour details soon.

In the meantime, here is a bit of a audio-visual quick squiz at BAD BOY. You can watch a little 'teaser trailer' about the latest Banks adventure here:



And here is Robinson himself talking about the background to the story (with some nice footage of the Yorkshire dales setting too):



If there are any questions you desperately want me to ask Peter Robinson, get a comment in quick and I'll do my best to include them.