Killer Books Programme by Verbal Arts Centre

R E L L I K BOOKS

NOV 1-3 2013

Featuring Lee Child

In association with

Crime writers Agent pitch Murder Mystery Kidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Crime Labs Ghost Tours Gaming Readings Workshops Secret Cinema

Welcome "Killer Books" is the most exciting literary crime festival taking place this year! The Verbal Arts Centre will be transformed into one mammoth crime scene for their Killer Books Crime Festival as part of Derry-Londonderry’s Halloween celebrations this year. The festival is organised by the Verbal Arts Centre, Ireland's leading centre for literature and storytelling, with invaluable assistance from local crime author Brian Mc Gilloway. It is part of the Verbal Arts Centre's Disobey Gravity programme for City of Culture 2013. Whether you are a mini-sleuth, aspiring writer or crime aficionado, "Killer Books" has something to offer you! Some of the biggest names in crime literature will be coming to the festival – as well as a packed weekend of murder mystery and suspense. Many of the events are free and ticketed events are affordable and family rates are available. The headline event is an evening with world-renowned author Lee Child, who sells a book every four seconds and has written the bestselling series Jack Reacher which has been made into a blockbuster film with Tom Cruise. In the lead up to this fantastic festival our established Reading Rooms project will have guests who will inspire and enthuse interest in crime literature through their community based shared reading hubs. Crime writers from across the UK will descend on the Verbal Arts Centre for a packed weekend of readings and events. Some of the finest crime authors in the UK and Ireland take part in a weekend of workshops, readings and talks. Many of our guests have had their work translated to both small and big screen and have won prizes around the world. Leading literary agents and editors take part in Dragon's Pen to allow budding local crime authors the chance to pitch their work and find the next Agatha Christie! Local crime author Brian McGilloway who will launch his latest novel ‘Hurt’ at the festival. Kids will be able to enjoy the Verbal CSI Lab – exploring fingerprinting, experiments and even slime – and take part in a family friendly Murder Mystery with detective Edie Birdwhistle as well as a Derry Victorian Crime Ghost Tours on the Walls with ghost and ghoul criminal characters. There will be Sherlock Holmes Storytelling and Crime Fighting Video Games, Mugshot Corners and Treasure Hunts. Throughout the weekend we invite guests to take part in an Alternative Reality Game to track down the Book Burglars and solve the clues with prizes for the best detective. Look out for the "Wanted" ads! For the older crime fans there will be talks by pathologists, psychologists and forensic experts and a special Secret Cinema screening of "Double Indemnity" on Friday evening with 50s style dress encouraged. The Glass Album exhibition documents trial evidence of the 1899 "Land War" trial in Gweedore and will be on display throughout November. Whether you like darkest noir, CSI or cosy crime, there's something for everyone in the programme. It would be a crime to miss it! Thanks to our partners & funders...

KILLER BOOKS - At a glance FRIDAY 1ST NOVEMBER

SATURDAY 2ND NOVEMBER

SUNDAY 3RD NOVEMBER

12-3pm Verbal Crime Lab "CSI Foyle for Mini-Sleuths"

11.30-12.30 "New Blood" How to Get Published with John Mc Allister, Louise Phillips, Claire Mc Gowan and Des Doherty.

12-3pm Verbal Crime Lab "CSI Foyle for Mini-Sleuths"

12-6pm Sherlock Holmes Storytelling 4-5pm Comedy Crime 6pm Murder Mystery "The Adventures of Edie Birdwhistle" 7pm Brian Mc Gilloway's new novel "Hurt" launch 9pm Secret Cinema "Double Indemnity" All weekend Book Burglars "Wanted" ad

12-6pm Interactive Crime Fighting Games

12.30-2.30pm "Dragon's Pen" Pitch to an agent

1pm Lee Child Book Signing

12-3pm Verbal Crime Lab "CSI Foyle for Mini-Sleuths"

2.30-3.30 pm CSI-debunking the Myths

12-6pm Interactive Crime Fighting Games 12-3pm Readings from crime authors and Brian Mc Gilloway reading and signing at 3pm 2.30-3.30pm The Thrill Is Gone 6.30-8pm Glass Album Exhibition Launch

4pm "Murder, Mystery and Music" panel Ann Cleeves, Paul Charles & Declan Hughes 6pm, 7pm & 8pm Victorian Crime in Derry-Ghost Tour with Martin Mc Crossan Gerard Brennan's free Crime Novella "Bounce"

7pm, 8pm & 9pm Victorian Crime in Derry-Ghost Tour with Martin Mc Crossan 8-10pm HEADLINE EVENT: LEE CHILD

Time: All weekend ~ Venue: throughout Verbal Arts Centre ~ Free

Book Burglars "Wanted"

A group of Book Burglars have landed in Derry, set to steal some of the city's best books. Players are asked to find the thieves and catch them in the act. Players must photograph the thieves and upload their photos. Thieves will be lurking around the festival for the whole weekend looking to take some of the books advertised during the weekend. Kids and adults alike are invited to take part in solving the crime. Prizes will be awarded for those who catch the most burglars!

Look out for the wanted posters!

www.facebook.com/bookburglars #bookburglars

FRIDAY 1ST NOVEMBER Time: 12-3pm ~ Venue: Verbal Arts Centre, Debating Chamber ~ Kids event ~Free

Verbal Crime Lab "CSI Foyle for Mini-Sleuths" Come and be part of real life crime investigations including fingerprinting, ransom note investigations and discovering the crime in the slime! These drop in workshop activities will be delivered with fear finding scientific facts and lots of fun by STEAM Aware. There will be a chance for adults and children to become Crime Scene Investigators with the Crime Trail and Secret Treasure Discovery, are you smart enough to solve the mystery? *CSI workshop also running Saturday and Sunday*

Time: 12-6pm ~ Venue: Verbal Arts Centre, CafĂŠ Blooms Kids & family ~ Free

Sherlock Holmes Storytelling

Simone Schuemmelfeder from Storygate will be telling crime stories from well known tales such as "Sherlock Holmes", "To Kill A Mockingbird" and "The Great Gatsby". Families, children and adults alike are welcome to drop in to be enthralled by Simone's interactive, lively storytelling style.

Time: 4-5pm Venue: Verbal Arts Centre, Blue Coat Room ~ Free

Comedy Crime

Comedy Crime panel with Declan Burke (The Big O, Crime Always Pays) Colin Bateman (Murphyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Law, Mystery Man) Gerard Brennan (Wee Rockets, The Point) and moderated by Garbhan Downey (Private Diary of an MLA, Running Mates). Comic crime is notoriously difficult to do well. This panel gathers together the undisputed masters of it in Ireland, who will discuss how best to strike a balance between crime and humour. 4

Time: 6pm Venue: Verbal Arts Centre ~Family event ~ £3 per person/£5 per family

Murder Mystery "The Adventures of Edie Birdwhistle"

Edie is an crime detective from the 1930's who is investigating the disappearance of the headmaster of First Derry School on Hallowe'en night with the help of her mini detectives. This is an interactive, multi-sensory performance for children which leads the audience around wheelchair accessible areas of the Verbal Arts Centre engaging all 5 of the senses- and sometimes a spooky 6th.

Time: 7pm Venue: Verbal Arts Centre, Bluecoat Room

Brian Mc Gilloway's new novel "Hurt" launch

The first Lucy Black novel, Little Girl Lost, was an Amazon No1 bestseller, with over 300,000 copies sold. Now DS Black returns in Hurt: Late December. A sixteen-year-old girl is found dead on a train line. Detective Sergeant Lucy Black is called to identify the body. The only clues to the dead teenager's last movements are stored in her mobile phone and on social media - and it soon becomes clear that her 'friends' were not as trustworthy as she thought. Lucy is no stranger to death: she is still haunted by the memory of the child she failed to save, and the killer she failed to put behind bars. And with a new boss scrutinizing her every move, she is determined that - this time - she will leave no margin for error. Hurt is a tense crime thriller about how, in the hands of a predator, trust can turn into terror. Refreshments will be served in Café Blooms following the launch.

Time: 9pm ~ Venue: Verbal Arts Centre, Bluecoat Room ~ ÂŁ5 per person

Secret Cinema "Double Indemnity" Double Indemnity Night In 1938, Walter Neff, an experienced salesman of the Pacific All Risk Insurance Co., meets the seductive wife of one of his clients, Phyllis Dietrichson, and they have an affair. Phyllis proposes to kill her husband to receive the proceeds of an accident insurance policy and Walter devises a scheme to receive twice the amount based on a double indemnity clause. When Mr. Dietrichson is found dead on a train-track, the police accept the determination of accidental death. However, the insurance analyst and Walter's best friend Barton Keyes does not buy the story and suspects that Phyllis has murdered her husband with the help of another man. The classic Billy Wilder movie co-written by noir writer supremo Raymond Chandler. The night will also include actors doing a few rehearsed Raymond Chandler readings. 50s style vintage dress is encouraged.

Time: All weekend ~ Venue: throughout Verbal Arts Centre ~ Free

Book Burglars "Wanted"

Look out for the wanted posters! www.facebook.com/bookburglars #bookburglars

SATURDAY 2ND NOVEMBER Time: 11.30-12.30 ~ Venue: Verbal Arts Centre, CafĂŠ Blooms ~ Free event

"New Blood" How to Get Published

with John Mc Allister, Louise Phillips, Claire Mc Gowan and Des Doherty Four recently published crime novelists discuss their experiences both of writing their first and second novels, offer advice on how to get your novel noticed and discuss the reality of being published. The discussion will be followed by an opportunity for Q&A. Perfect for those interested a career in crime writing. Budding writers should also check out "Dragon's Pen" Pitch to an Agent event.

Time: 12.30-2.30pm ~ Venue: Verbal Arts Centre, Downstairs theatre ~ Free event but booking essential

"Dragon's Pen" Pitch to an agent Local writers with a manuscript to sell will have 3 minutes each to pitch their book to a panel of two leading UK agents; Jenny Hewson (RCW) and David Headley (DHH Literary Agency), crime editor; Katherine Armstrong (Faber) and Arlene Hunt (Crime writer and editor Portnoy Publishing). The panel will offer feedback to each writer. *Budding authors must register with us, sending a sample of their work to be discussed. No more than 1,000 words. Send your work and your contact details to: maggie.mckeever@theverbal.co

Time: 12-3pm ~ Venue: Verbal Arts Centre, FoyĂŠ ~ Kids event ~Free

Time: 12-6pm ~ Venue: Verbal Arts Centre ~ Free Event

Crime Fighting Video Games

Magee CORE will host two days of fantastic crime fighting video games featuring some of you favourite characters, suitable for fans of all ages and skill levels. On show for the gaming fans there will be Lego Batman on X-box, games on Wii U and detective games on classic Arcade machines. There will also be a great range of games for the Playstation 3, Kinect, Xbox 360 and the Wii U consoles. Fun for everyone whether you are looking for a challenge or to relax and just see what gaming has to offer.

Time: 12-3pm ~ Venue: Eason's ~ Free event

Readings from crime authors and Brian Mc Gilloway reading and signing at 3pm Crime writers taking part in the "Killer Books" festival will be reading in Eason's on Saturday. Authors such as John Mc Allister, Gerard Brennan, Claire Mc Gowan, Alan Glynn, Andrew Pepper, William Ryan and Stuart Neville. Brian Mc Gilloway will do a reading and signing of his newly released novel "Hurt" at 3pm.

Time: 2.30-3.30pm ~ Venue: Verbal Arts Centre, Bluecoat Room ~ Panel discussion ~ Free Event

The Thrill Is Gone

Four of the best Irish thriller writers (two of whom write exclusively historical novels) will discuss the use of past and present and which works better in a thriller. They will also talk about how to go about researching an historical novel and some personal experiences of the transition from page to screen. Alan Glynn (author of the Hollywood Blockbuster "Limitless" starring Robert De Niro and Bradley Cooper), Andrew Pepper (A Pyke Mystery Series), William Ryan (The Holy Thief, The Bloody Meadow) and Stuart Neville (Author of "The Twelve", soon to be adapted for screen starring Pierce Brosnan).

Time: 6.30-8pm ~ Venue: Verbal Arts Centre, Foyer ~ Exhibition ~ Free

Glass Album Exhibition Launch The exhibition tells the story of photographer James Glass who was the leading portrait and landscape photographer in the North-West in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These photographs are connected to 9

the famous 1889 "Land War" trial of Fr McFadden and some of his parishioners following the killing of District Inspector Martin in Gweedore, Co. Donegal. This was the first use of photographs as evidence in an Irish Court. Curator Declan Sheehan will give a talk about the case. Exhibition will be on display throughout November.

Time: 7pm, 8pm & 9pm ~ Venue: Starts at Verbal Arts Centre £3 per person £5 per family

Victorian Crime in Derry-Ghost Tour with Martin Mc Crossan

Families are invited to take part in a Derry Victorian Crime Ghost Tour on the Walls with Martin Mc Crossan. Ghosts and ghoul criminal characters of yesteryear such as the Graverobber, Banshee, the murdered Headmistress of First Derry School and the Angel of Death will take centre stage. The tour will visit Victorian crime locations such as the Verbal Arts Centre, St Augustine's Chapel, St Columb's Cathedral and Society St.

Time: 8-10pm Venue: First Derry Church £5 per person

HEADLINE EVENT: LEE CHILD

The world's leading crime novelist, Lee Child will take part in a conversation with crime author Brian McGilloway, followed by a Q&A and book signing. One of Child's "Jack Reacher" novels is bought every four seconds somewhere in the world. Lee will discuss his influences, inspirations, where the series is going and how he really feels about Tom Cruise playing his hero.

SUNDAY 3RD NOVEMBER Time: 12-3pm ~ Venue: Verbal Arts Centre, Debating Chamber ~ Drop in Kids event ~Free

Verbal Crime Lab "CSI Foyle for Mini-Sleuths"

Come and be part of real life crime investigations including fingerprinting, ransom note investigations and discovering the crime in the slime! These drop in workshop activities will be delivered with fear finding scientific facts and lots of fun by STEAM Aware. There will be a chance for adults and children to become Crime Scene Investigators with the Crime Trail and Secret Treasure Discovery, are you smart enough to solve the mystery? *CSI workshop also running Friday and Saturday*

Time: 12-6pm ~ Venue: Verbal Arts Centre, Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Studio ~ Free Event

Crime Fighting Video Games

Time: 2.30-3.30 pm Venue: Verbal Arts Centre Free event

CSI-debunking the Myths

Professor Dave Barclay is a leading expert in Forensic Science. As well as working such high profile cases as the Bloody Sunday Tribunal and the Omagh bombing, Professor Barclay worked on the Sarah Payne case, assisting in the conviction of sex offender Roy Whiting in 2001, as well as on the Millie Dowler and Soham murder cases. He was also the BBC’s script consultant on Waking the Dead and has contributed to numerous crime documentaries. In addition, he is one half of the crime novelist AD Garrett, whose novels he co-writes with Margaret Murphy. Warning: Presentation contains graphic images.

Time: 4pm Venue: Verbal Arts Centre, Bluecoat room

"Murder, Mystery and Music" panel Ann Cleeves, Paul Charles & Declan Hughes Three of the top crime writers around discuss aspects of their work. Ann Cleeves is the author of two series, both currently being televised (Vera with ITV and Shetland with BBC). In addition to writing crime novels, Magherafelt native, Paul Charles is a music promoter whose clients include Tom Waits and Ry Cooder. Declan Hughes is an award winning playwright and crime writer whose Ed Loy series relocated the PI novel to Dublin.

Time: 6pm, 7pm & 8pm - £3 per person £5 per family

Victorian Crime in Derry-Ghost Tour

Families are invited to take part in a Derry Victorian Crime Ghost Tour on the Walls with Martin Mc Crossan. Ghosts and ghoul criminal characters of yesteryear such as the Graverobber, Banshee, the murdered Headmistress of First Derry School and the Angel of Death will take centre stage. The tours will visit Victorian crime locations starting at the Verbal Arts, St Augustine's Chapel, St Columb's Cathedral and Society St. 12

As part of the Killer Books festival the Verbal Arts Centre have commissioned free book "Bounce" by Gerard Brennan In BOUNCE, Paddy wants to learn how to relate to his eighteen-year-old son, Sean. The awkwardness that exists between them becomes more apparent in the days following a homophobic attack on the teenager after a night out. As a bouncer at a popular bar in Derry, Paddy is only too familiar with the demons that alcohol can summon and his son's vulnerability terrifies him. He begins his own investigation into the assault when the PSNI admit that they have no leads. But if he does track down the thug, can he control the violent tendencies?

Pick up your free copy of Gerard Brennan's "Bounce" at the Verbal Arts Centre and Eason's. Ongoing - Reading Rooms As part of the Disobey Gravity programme for City of Culture, 2013, The Verbal Arts Centre and The Reader Organisation have joined forces to bring the Reading Revolution to Northern Ireland – starting with Derry-Londonderry. As part of our Reading Rooms project, local people have had the chance to take this innovative and exciting training FOR FREE in 2013 and will be fully supported by the Verbal Arts Centre with material selection, meeting spaces in Reading Rooms all over the city and in-session support as they use their news skills to bring reading aloud alive in their communities. This training is offered as part of The Verbal Arts Centre’s ‘Reading Rooms’ project – taking the love of reading out into local communities. The project will continue in 2014 as part of the legacy of City of Culture and we will be recruiting new volunteers. No previous experience or specific qualifications necessary – just a passion for reading and the willingness to share that love with your friends and neighbours. This is an amazing opportunity to get involved in a legacy project, expand your skills and share your love of reading through a fun, social activity. To find out more about this opportunity, please contact: catherine.mcgrotty@verbalartscentre.co.uk Leading up to the "Killer Books" festival local crime authors will be taking part in the Reading Rooms. Keep an eye on our Facebook for updates 13

Guest Profiles Alan Glynn Alan was born in 1960, studied English Literature at TCD, and has worked in New York and Verona. His first novel, The Dark Fields, was published in 2002 and was later filmed as Limitless starring Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro. His second novel Winterland was published in 2009. Bloodland followed in 2011 and won the Bord Gais Energy/Ireland AM Crime Novel of the Year Award. The third novel in Alan’s ‘globalisation noir’ trilogy, Graveland, has just been published by Faber. Alan is married with two children and lives in Dublin.

Andrew Pepper Andrew is the author of five historical crime novels set in Britain and Ireland in the mid-nineteenth century featuring Pyke, a crook turned police detective. The first - The Last Days of Newgate - was shortlisted for the CWA New Blood Award. The last - Bloody Winter – is set in Wales and Ireland against a related backdrop of industrial boom and famine. He lectures in English and American literature at Queen’s University Belfast and is writing a history of crime fiction.

Ann Cleeves Ann has been published for a long time. Now she writes two series of traditional crime novels. The Vera Stanhope books are set in her home county of Northumberland and have been adapted for ITV as VERA starring Brenda Blethyn. The Shetland books have been adapted by the BBC and feature Dougie Henshall. The first of these novels, Raven Black, won the CWA Gold Dagger in 2006. The most recent, Dead Water, was shortlisted for the Deanston Scottish crime novel of the year.

Arlene Hunt Arlene is the author of eight crime fiction novels, five of which feature the popular QuicK Investigation duo, John Quigley and Sarah Kenny. She is also the co-owner of Portnoy Publishing and resides in Dublin. Her novel 14

The Chosen â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a stand alone set in the US â&#x20AC;&#x201C; was voted as TV3's Book of the Month for November 2011. An earlier novel, Undertow (2008), was short listed for best crime novel at The Irish Book Awards. Arlene has also contributed to many anthologies, including, Down These Green Streets, Requiems for the Departed, and Silver Strings of Hope for Console. Arlene's latest novel, The Outsider, is released in October, 2013.

Brian McGilloway He was born in Derry, Northern Ireland in 1974. His Inspector Devlin novels have been shortlisted for the CWA New Blood Dagger, the Irish Book Awards/Ireland AM Crime Novel of the Year and the Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year while Little Girl Lost, which introduced a new series featuring DS Lucy Black, won the University of Ulster's McCrea Award in 2011 and is a No.1 Amazon Bestseller.

Colin Bateman Colin is the best selling author of novels for adults and children. His first, 'Divorcing Jack' was made into a successful film and he has since written more than thirty books, including I Predict A Riot, Mystery Man and most recently Fire and Brimstone. He was named in both The Times 100 Masters of Crime and The Daily Telegraph's 50 Crime Writers to Read Before You Die. His novel 'The Day of the Jack Russell' won the Last Laugh Award in 2010. For television he created and wrote the long running BBC series 'Murphy's Law' for the actor James Nesbitt. He is currently writing the second series of 'Scup' for TG 4/BBC. His first play, National Anthem, was the sell-out hit of the Belfast Festival in 2010 and was short-listed for the Irish Times Theatre Awards. He was recently made an Honorary Doctor of Letters by the University of Ulster for services to Literature.

Claire McGowan She was born in 1981 in a small Irish village where the most exciting thing that ever happened was some cows getting loose on the road. After studying at Oxford and living in China and France, she now lives in London, where there aren't any cows but there is 15

the occasional murder in her street. She was previously Director of the Crime Writers' Association and now teaches on the first ever crime-writing MA at City University. Despite being steeped in crime the worst thing she has ever done in real life is walk on some grass when the sign explicitly said not to.

Dave Barclay Dave is a forensic adviser to the police forces and the media and is a Chemistry and forensic science lecturer. He retired in 2005 after 10 years as Head of Physical Evidence at the UK National Crime and Operations Faculty. There he undertook physical evidence reviews in 233 murders or murder series. He frequently lectures to senior police management courses, lay and forensic science audiences in the UK and abroad on maximising the forensic science contribution to investigations. He has worked as forensic adviser to several TV programmes, including Waking the Dead, Timewatch and Horizon.

David Headley David is the Managing Director and lead agent of the D H H Literary agency. David is actively seeking well written manuscripts with strong characters and an original narrative voice from new writers in both general and genre fiction. David co-founded and became the Managing Director of Goldsboro Books, a much admired independent bookseller, based in central London and has spent the last 14 years building good relationships with editors within the UK's major publishing houses. He has gained a reputation for championing debut authors and he created the UK's largest collectors' book club.

Declan Burke Declan has published four novels: Eightball Boogie (2003), The Big O (2007), Absolute Zero Cool (2011) and Slaughter’s Hound (2012). His next novel, Crime Always Pays, will be published in March, 2014. Absolute Zero Cool received the Goldsboro / Crimefest ‘Last Laugh’ Award for Best Humorous Crime Novel in 2012. Slaughter’s Hound was shortlisted in the Crime Fiction category for the 2012 Irish Book 16

Awards. Declan is also the editor of Down These Green Streets: Irish Crime Writing in the 21st Century (2011), and the co-editor, with John Connolly, of Books to Die For (2012).

Declan Hughes Declan is the author of the Ed Loy PI series: The Wrong Kind of Blood; The Colour of Blood; The Price of Blood/The Dying Breed and All The Dead Voices. His books have been nominated for the Edgar, CWA New Blood Dagger, Shamus, Macavity and Theakston's Old Peculier awards, and The Wrong Kind of Blood won the Shamus for Best First PI Novel. Declan is also an award-winning playwright, and the co-founder and former artistic director of Dublin's Rough Magic Theatre Company. His latest novel is called City of Lost Girls.

Desmond Doherty Desmond is the author of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;VALBERGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. This is his first published novel, his second in the series is due to be published in the summer of 2014. He was born and lives in Derry and has works as a solicitor and has extensive experience on a national and international level in respect of criminal and civil law. He is a member of the Special Tribunal for the Lebanon and the International Criminal Court for the former Yugoslavia and is currently involved in the Inquiry into Hyponatraemia-related Deaths. Desmond represented the Mc Guigan family at the Bloody Sunday Inquiry. The Dublin and Monaghan bombings 1974, the Omagh bombing 1998, Daniel Hegarty Operation Motorman and the Inquest held in London into the death of former Irish Olympian boxer, Darren Sutherland, are a few of the cases Desmond has acted for the next of kin.

Garbhan Downey Garbhan has killed off more Irish politicians than any writer since Michael Collins. The former newspaper editor has written seven post-ceasefire thrillers, described as "a superb blend of comedy, political dirty tricks, grisly murder and bizarre twists". He works as an editor and digital development manager with Guildhall Press. 17

Gerard Brennan Gerard’s short stories have appeared in a number of anthologies; including The Mammoth Book of Best British Crime volumes 8 and 9. He co-edited Requiems for the Departed, a collection of crime fiction based on Irish myths which won the 2011 Spinetingler Award for best anthology. His novella, The Point, was published by Pulp Press in October 2011 and won the 2012 Spinetingler Award for best novella. His novels, WEE ROCKETS and FIREPROOF, were published as ebooks by Blasted Heath in 2012. He graduated from the MA in creative writing at Queen's University Belfast in 2012.

Jenny Hewson Jenny is an agent at Rogers, Coleridge and White in London. She represents a wide range of fiction and non fiction, and her authors include Brian McGilloway, Christos Tsiolkas, Amy Sackville and Alexander Macleod.

John McAllister John spent forty-five years as a pleasant, obliging Accountant. Then he met his doppelgänger, Sergeant John Barlow of his latest novel, The Station Sergeant. Barlow is everything John couldn’t be in real life: thick, annoying, cussed and cantankerous. The novel, The Station Sergeant, has had wonderful reviews in both the Sunday Times and the New York Journal of Books. John is also the author of a novel, Line of Flight, and a collection of short stories, The Fly Pool. His work has been published in several anthologies, including Requiems for the Departed.

Katherine Armstrong Katherine was born in Belfast in 1981 and was educated at Queen's University, Belfast and the University of Stirling. She has worked in the publishing industry for nearly ten years and is currently crime fiction editor at Faber and Faber in London.

Louise Phillips Louise is bestselling crime author of the psychological crime thriller, Red Ribbons, shortlisted for Best Irish Crime Novel of the Year 2012. Her work has been published as part of many anthologies, including County Lines from New Island, and various literary journals. In 2009, she won the Jonathan Swift Award for her short story Last Kiss and the Irish Writers’ Centre Lonely Voice platform in 2011. She has been shortlisted for the Molly Keane Memorial Award, Bridport UK, and long-listed twice for the RTÉ Guide/Penguin Short Story Competition. Her second novel, The Doll's House, another psychological crime thriller was published August 2013.

Paul Charles

Magherafelt born Paul, is the author of the Christy Kennedy Mysteries. The 10th book in the series - A PLEASURE TO DO DEATH WITH YOU - was published earlier this year. He is also the author of two Inspector Starrett novels, set in Donegal, and two other novels, First of The True Believers (using the Beatle story as a backdrop) and The Last Dance, set in the world of the legendary Irish Showbands. He now lives in Camden Town, London, and divides his time between writing and the music business. Further info at: www.paulcharlesbooks.com

William Ryan

William’s Captain Korolev novels are set in 1930s Russia and have been widely praised. The first of the series, THE HOLY THIEF, was shortlisted for the Theakstons Crime Novel of the Year, The Kerry Group Irish Fiction Award and The CWA's John Creasy New Blood Dagger. The second, THE BLOODY MEADOW, was shortlisted for the Ireland AM Irish Crime Novel of the Year and his latest, The Twelfth Department, was shortlisted for The CWA's Ellis Peters Historical Dagger. The novels have been translated into more than 15 languages. William lives in London with his wife and son and teaches on the Crime Writing Masters degree course at City University. 19

Verbal Arts Centre The Verbal Arts Centre is an educational charity founded in 1992 for the promotion of all aspects of the spoken and written word in Ireland. Based at the beautifully refurbished First Derry building which occupies a prime location on the city's walls, the centre itself hosts a range of activities for a variety of audiences. Stable Lane and Mall Wall Bishop Street Within, Derry/Londonderry, BT48 6PU T: 028 7126 6946 twitter @VerbalArtsDerry | facebook.com/verbal.artscentre Maggie.mckeever@theverbal.co *Contact the Verbal Arts Centre to buy tickets for events or to register for "Dragon's Pen" Pitch to an Agent. 20