Cheryll the writer: Theakston's Crime Writers Festival Harrogate

The Old Swan, Harrogate

Despite the heat I had a truly fabulous time at Harrogate this year.

Yurt on the Lawn

Love those deckchairs ; D

I went alone to the Crime Writers Festival this year, so I treated myself and stayed at The Old Swan, the hotel made famous by Agatha Christie. Christie stayed there during her 11 day 'disappearance' in December 1926, which resulted in a major police man hunt.

Christie has never spoken publicly about that time and the whole event remains a mystery.

Creative Thursday

Having attended the previous three Creative Thursdays, I must say that this years offering was the best ever. M R Hall and William Ryan were inspirational in their 'Constructing Character and Plot' workshop, and I particularly enjoyed Callum Sutherland's interactive session on forensic science. All three agreed to an interview for CrimeWarp, as did Henry Sutton, who ran the other useful workshop on' Learning from the Greats'.
The day was long, it was packed full of information that I know will only enhance my writing and it was a brilliant start to the festival.

Some of the best of the rest.....

There was so much going off that it was hard to pick my best moments, but here goes;

Meeting up with my fellow CrimeWarpers and getting my tee shirt has to be the best moment but it just wouldn't be Harrogate if I didn't run into Mel Sherratt, she is so lovely.

The special guests were amazing, but for me the highlight had to be Sarah Millican interviewing Lee Child, she was so funny and was the perfect foil for Lee's dry wit. I caught up with Sarah in the foyer and she agreed to pose for a photo with me, she is as fabulous in the flesh as she is on TV.

And who would have thought that discussing human remains identification would be so humourous. I saw a new side to Val mcDermid as she interviewed to Professor Sue Black OBE she was hilarious.

The other panel that stood out for me was the special event 'Vera'. I met Ann Cleeves and Brenda Blethyn after the event and they were both great. Ann agreed to an interview with CrimeWarp.

At breakfast the next day I ran into Paul Rutman, the screenwriter on the show and he agreed to write something too!

Other highlights for me were meeting up with and getting a chance to talk with fabulous writers such as; N J Cooper, Ian Rankin, William McKillaney, Simon Kernick and Elizabeth Haynes; Having a CrimeWarp team and almost winning the quiz and finally getting Lee Child to autograph a book for my friend Jo.