Murderous thoughts in the spa and what I'm reading now
Plus, How to apply for 2025 writer bursaries, London Book Fair, Romance in the bookshop, Regional Press Awards & British Book awards (Nibbies) top libraries
My dear wordsmiths,
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Last week was so busy I left you all hanging on World Book Day of all days, which is ironic. But as last week contained World Book Day, International Women’s Day. Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Day) and my birthday - it all went pear shaped - and not just due to the volume of pancakes consumed and birthday shenanigans.
Spa-life
My busy-ness included swanning about in glorious sunshine in an infinity hot tub in the North East of England - my little birthday treat last weekend. My friend with an important job and I visited Rockcliffe Hall which is a grand hotel with huge spa in County Durham and generally ate and were pampered to our hearts content. We were blessed with sunshine for the outdoor spa - I really felt like spring was well on the way to springing. Naturally, I didn’t get any writing done, which meant that writer guilty itch was never far away and I’m not terribly good at relaxing. But it gave me great inspiration for a new book - or at least a scene in one. Spas are a really good place to murder people, I reckon (my friend survived).
What I’m reading..
My chosen spa read was this ‘compelling crime debut’ ( to quote press release blurb) The Departed by Liverpool author Sarah Mellor. In full disclosure, this was sent to me as a preview copy by Harper Collins North and is out in hardback today (March 13). I’ll share my thoughts when I’ve finished it as I was too busy chatting to get very far but first impressions are promising.
It was International Women’s Day last week - a day I’m slightly furious we need at all - but grateful for the invitation from the fabulous female networkers at Pink Link Ladies at the marvellous Leighton Hall. The hall is reminiscent of Hogwarts including sweeping stairs, stags’ heads, grey spires and magnificent library walls of books. Though I didn’t get sorted into Hufflepuff (always a fear) I did a talk to a group of awesome business high-fliers about how to shine on a podcast.
It was a lovely day and I met some fabulous women - including Channel 5 News’ Claire Hannah (former Granada Reports & she’s freelance (via LinkedIn) if you need an ace speaker at your event) - who I’ve known vaguely for the longest time but never properly talked to despite our parallel careers. She’s a good friend of my former BBC co-presenter Gemma Ray and worked at a local radio station when I worked at the adjacent local paper. I’ve seen her at the scene of crimes and industry events but somehow never had a proper conversation. We now have coffee pencilled in to catch up on 20-odd years of industry gossip.
Meanwhile, the sun is shining through the cold and the fabulous sunsets are kicking in here in the Lancashire countryside - it’s beautiful - as my image shows. The Pheasants, bless their cotton socks, are as lacking in brain cells as ever and are constantly putting their own lives in danger/getting stuck in things/forgetting they can fly - which sounds like an analogy for myself.
Anyway..
News, events and opportunities books/journalism
Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival | Jane Gregory bursaries for under -represented writers
I’ve been contacted by the team to flag applications are now open for the Jane Gregory Bursaries which offer three under-represented writers a unique opportunity to attend the Creative Thursday writing day at the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival 2025, the globally renowned celebration of crime fiction presented by Harrogate International Festivals.
One of the bursaries incorporates a Weekend Break Package with accommodation and tickets to all Festival main stage events, whilst the Festival’s Creative Thursday Workshops are offered in all three bursaries, along with travel contributions. Applications from under-represented writers, who may lack opportunities due to disabilities, identity, health or social circumstances, are welcomed and applications close on Friday April 18. Link to website here
“Everyone needs a little help along the way, and I sincerely hope that these bursaries will offer some amazing opportunities to aspiring writers.”
Literary agent Jane Gregory, festival co-founder
It’s London Book Fair this week which translates to little for most authors as all the relevant agents/publishers will probably be networking, announcing big pre-made deals, sending out press releases, sitting on panels, manning stalls and nurturing hangovers. Probably not the week to send in your query - but good to keep on top of the news and the emerging zeitgeist to see what agents/publishers are looking out for in the year ahead.
The stuff of romantic fiction: (Read full article here in The Scotsman)
This somewhat marvellous story comes from my (day job) colleagues at the Scotsman ..
It could be the story behind the latest best-selling romantic novel. But for bookseller Sarah Frame, every detail is wonderfully true. Ms Frame left the corporate world behind her and set up a bookshop in her home town at the height of the pandemic - and ended up falling in love with a crime writer whom she wed in a special ceremony in her own boutique store. The businesswoman, who owns The Book Nook in Stewarton, East Ayrshire, is celebrating after her outlet was named Scotland’s Independent Bookshop of the Year in the 2025 British Book Awards. Extract from The Scotsman
The RMP’s took place yesterday in London and although I didn’t attend on this occasion I was cheerleading from afar for the Yorkshire Evening Post - one of the sites in my portfolio - with editor Joseph Keith attending in person. The title was shortlisted for its live events coverage of the Harehills riot - it didn’t win but I’m proud of them anyway. Also a shout out to colleague, reporter Laura Longworth, whose impressive and relentless campaign on behalf of victims of the cavity wall insulation scandal was also shortlisted - photographic colleagues at the Yorkshire Post were also highly commended and Nathan Judah from the Express and Star won sports journalist of the year. View full list of winners HERE
The British Book Awards 2025 Library of the Year:
10 libraries and library authorities from across the United Kingdom and Ireland have been crowned regional and country winners, celebrating those that reach beyond the library walls to bring rarely reached communities, adults and children into the world of books. Selected by the judges from 36 finalists announced last month, the award, sponsored by publisher DK and run in association with The Reading Agency, celebrates libraries that inspire local communities to engage in reading and the services offered by their local libraries. Full list in link (go Manchester Libraries!)
& you can also see the Book of the year shortlist HERE
I think that’s enough wittering for one week. If you’ve read this far, well done, and you defo need to subscribe and like if not. I’m always happy to plug books and events - just get in touch.. Have a great week Nx