CHRISTCHURCH WRITERS FESTIVAL 2008

KILLING TIME

My second session for the day featured three crime fiction writers, two comparatively new but successful NZ authors, Vanda Symon and Paul Cleave, and the accomplished UK creator of D.I.Tom Thorne, Mark Billingham who has some eight books to his credit.

The session was chaired by law academic Ursula Cheer who after getting each author to read a brief extract then put a series of questions to them including two that drew forth interesting responses about character development and methods of research into forensic and other matters.

A member of the audience asked what advice the panellists had to budding writers of crime fiction and interestingly enough all three said read, read, read. And Billingham added write, write , write.

Time now for a coffee before the next session. Buzzy feeling here today, authors everywhere, and a wonderful temporary book shop set up by the UBS is doing a roaring trade.