News flash: All four Ngaio Marsh Award finalists to appear at 2011 event, including the elusive Alix Bosco!

The line-up for "Setting the Stage for Murder" has now been confirmed, with the news that all four of the Ngaio Marsh Award finalists will be at the event on 21 August. That's right, the line-up will include the 2010 winner, the mysterious 'Alix Bosco'. So head to the Christchurch Arts Festival website and grab your tickets now, and secure your spot at a crime fiction event that just gets better and better: six great crime writers, two international superstars, four terrific Kiwi authors, the announcement of the winner of the 2011 Ngaio Marsh Award, and the first ever public event for 'Alix Bosco' - meet the person behind the mystery.

Tickets now on sale for the 2011 Ngaio Marsh Award presentation

Tickets are now on sale for "Setting the Stage for Murder", a great event in Christchurch on 21 August that incorporates the presentation of the 2011 Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Crime Novel.

The event is being held at 11am at the TelstraClear Club in Hagley Park, in association with the Christchurch Writers Festival Trust, and as part of the 2011 Christchurch Arts Festival (which runs from 12 August to 2 October).

It's terrific to have both organisations (the Arts Festival and the Writers' Festival) behind the Ngaio Marsh Award. Here's the spiel for the event from the Arts Festival website:

SETIING THE STAGE FOR MURDER

The International Stage

Two of America’s top crime writers join forces in a gripping session. Best-selling author Tess Gerritsen and award-winner John Hart, author of three New York Times bestsellers, will discuss their latest novels — The Silent Girl and The Iron House respectively. Chaired by crime afcionado and reviewer Graham Beattie, this riveting event will have you on the edge of your seat.

The New Zealand Stage
Christchurch s again proud to host the prestigious Ngaio Marsh Award for Best Crime Novel. A panel of local and international judges has been considering the best locally written crime and thriller fction published in New Zealand in 2010. The three fnalists will discuss their books with Craig Sisterson, one of the country’s most knowledgeable crime readers, before the winner is announced.
Presented by Christchurch Writers Festival.

It should be a terrific way to spend a late winter Sunday. Hopefully we will see some of you there. You can purchase tickets through the Arts Festival website here.