Monthly Archive for October, 2009
What is it about Britain, asks Andrew Martin, that makes it such a fitting playground for the supernatural? We are, it seems, a nation primed for ghostliness; our history, our landscape, our very climate are inherently eerie.
In Ghoul Britannia, Martin takes a wry look at our haunted isle, goes to cursed houses, talks to psychics and believers, and studies exorcisms. He asks why some ghosts appear in libraries and others at the end of the bed, what ghosts like to wear, and whether you should feel nervous on a foggy, moonlit night…
In this engrossing new book, Martin searches out the dark corners of our subconscious in an attempt to explain our most deep-seated fears – why, despite famously being a nation of cynics, we just cannot quite ignore that bump in the night.
US crime writer Harlan Coben was named this week as ITV3 viewers’ favourite crime genre author, beating Dick Francis, Martina Cole, Alexander McCall Smith and United Agents author Nicci French after an online poll which lasted six weeks.
The award was announced at the Specsavers Crime Thriller Awards 2009, held on Wednesday night (21st October) at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London. A full list of winners can be found here
The year’s best thriller was The Last Child by John Hart (John Murray), which won the CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger 2009, sponsored by Ian Fleming Publications Ltd.
The Specsavers Crime Thriller Awards 2009 will be televised on ITV3 on Tuesday, 27th October at 9pm.
To watch a video of all my photos from the night click on the image above.
Kate Williams’ mesmeric Becoming Queen the amazing tale of Victoria’s passionate struggle for the throne, and the tale of Princess Charlotte, the forgotten heir,f eatures in the Times/ WH Smiths 50 best paperbacks of the year promotion. The winner is announced on December 12. To see the whole list click on the image.
2010 will see the launch of a new Festival aimed at all those budding writers out there who want to get access to publishing and agenting professionals. For full details visit the website for the York Festival of Writing here . It takes place over the weekend of 10-11 April on the campus of York University. Workshops will be run by R J Ellory, Barry Cunningham, Katie Fforde, Clare Alexander, Darley Anderson, me (!) and many others.
Patrick Neate’s JERUSALEM has received exceptional across-the-board reviews. Irvine Welsh reviewed it thus ‘The most thought-provoking novel of the year. Jerusalem shows how imperialism has shaped, and crucially, continues to shape, not just African identity, but also that of England. An utterly essential read.’
Patrick is appearing live at the Soho Theatre on 21 October 8pm in an Apples and Snakes event where, according to their website he will be presenting a voyage through the dark waters of his mind. Expect serio-comic, self-effacing brilliance. With suitably streetwise support. Of course.
Book tickets HERE
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