Firstly the Hay Festival, because I do love a bit of controversy. An email sent out on 29/11 to coincide with the mini-Winter festival ended with a note on recent signings for next year:
"Newly signed for the Hay Festival in May 2008 are Cherie Booth QC, John Irving and Mohamed ElBaradei."
Honestly, I'd need a free ticket and wild horses to drag me there for a certain lady...
The 2008 Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival ("Harrogate" to some) was recently launched to gathered media. I commend them for further improved organisation this year in letting people know the full line up this early - it helps to plan a visit and decide on ticket bookings. Special guests include Andy McNab, Peter Robinson, Robert Crais, Jeffery Deaver and Tess Gerritsen. The full line up can be seen on this page, but here's a repeat of it, just in case you're all clicked out:
Jeff Abbott
Lin Anderson
MC Beaton
Simon Beckett
Michel Benoit
Mark Billingham
Paul Blezard
Sam Bourne
Simon Brett
Fiona Bruce
Chelsea Cain
C.J. Carver
Ann Cleeves
John Connor
Thomas H Cook
Natasha Cooper
Colin Cotteril
Robert Crais
Jeffery Deaver
Stella Duffy
Martin Edwards
Joseph Finder
Frances Fyfield
Meg Gardiner
Tess Gerritsen
Allan Guthrie
Peter Guttridge
Steven Hague
Jacqui Hames
David Hewson
Jane Hill
Quintin Jardine
Paul Johnston
Roger Jon Ellory
Simon Kernick
Philip Kerr
Chris Kuzneski
Mark Lawson
Kolton Lee
Peter Lovesey
Shona MacLean
Suart MacBride
Nigel McCrery
Val McDermid
Andy McDermott
Cody McFadyen
Andy McNab
Catriona McPherson
Denise Mina
Barbara Nadel
Jo Nesbo
Charlie Owen
Jill Paton Walsh
Anne Perry
John Rickards
Tom Rob Smith
Peter Robinson
Catherine Sampson
Dreda Say Mitchell
Frank Schatzing
Claire Seeber
E.V. Seymour
Chris Simms
Johan Theorin
Martyn Waites
Laura Wilson
Funnily enough Norm, I misread the email originally and told someone that it was David Irving... I had expectations of a massive police presence at Hay next May.
Posted by: crimeficreader | 18 December 2007 at 10:28
I looked at the names very quickly and thought for a moment they had invited David Irving and Connie Booth! Then I thought I know Fawlty Towers was good but did she really become a QC for that.;)
Posted by: Norm | 15 December 2007 at 23:19