Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Crime under the spotlight at new literary festival


New Writing North and Northumbria University have launched a new crime writing festival.
The festival, Crime Story, will take place at Northumbria University between 31st May and 1st June, and will include panel discussions and workshops focusing on a fictional crime and its progress through the criminal justice system.

Details of the festival were revealed at Northumbria University’s Gallery North on 13 February during the launch party of Ann Cleeves’ new Vera Stanhope novel, Harbour Street (Pan Macmillan). Cleeves has been commissioned to write the crime scenario that the festival will be based on.
The day will be led by chairperson, Peter Guttridge, author and former crime fiction critic for The Observer, who will also be on hand to answer questions. Meanwhile experts, including academics from Northumbria University, will walk participants through the different stages of the criminal justice system from investigation through to sentencing.

A number of crime writers will share their expertise at the festival. Cleeves will be in conversation with Gaby Chiappe, the screenwriter behind the TV adaptations of her Vera Stanhope novels. Crime writer Louise Welsh will talk about her latest novel A Lovely Way to Burn (Hodder & Stoughton) and Margaret Murphy, who writes under the pseudonym of AD Garrett, will run a creative writing workshop.
Workshops on other elements of the criminal process, such as further forensic analysis, the impact of the media on investigating crime and digital forensics, will also be available.

Lucy Winskell, pro vice-chancellor for Business and Engagement at Northumbria University said: “A festival such as this has the potential to attract visitors from far and wide, and we hope to see Crime Story develop further and cement itself as a regular highlight in the national literary calendar.”

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