Newcastle Noir wrapped up
Newcastle Noir is over for another year, but it was a blast. As official blogger I had a task….to live tweet the panels and to interview the authors. And a task I was proud to carry out – well it was hardly hardship was it? Tweeting about authors and books and all things crime related. It was a three day challenge – from 7pm on Friday to 9pm or later on Sunday.I prepared well – vitamin bars, full fat coke, a cushion, bag for the books, coffee on tap, phone for pictures and an offer to give guided tours when required.
Day 1 – Friday – Dame Denise comes to town
Dame Denise Mina came to town. Rocking a very cool red skirt and a kick ass attitude. Chatted crime fiction and her love of Glasgow. A very funny lady with a great sense of humour that you can see why her novels are so evocative and her characters so real. Had a few gems to share such as “Research is delicious” and “Be reckless! Life should be about enjoyment! Do something fun! We’re all going to die anyway” Haha this lady has just gone even higher up in my estimations than she was before. And to see just how ‘street’ she was, we took her to McDonalds to discuss the age old question – just how do you pronounce her surname – MEENA or M-EYE-NA?
Thomas Enger, me, Denise Mina and Antti
Answer – M – EYE- NA
Mari chats crime and Ferraris
Day 2 Saturday – Geordies cause mayhem, The two As and the two J’s of the Femmes Fatales and the Nordics bring the house down
There were readings from the authors and a lot of mention of places in the North East perfect for fictional killings. Matt Wesolowski read from Six Stories and I swear the hairs on the back of my neck stood to attention. Then the lovely LJ Ross discussed the use of locations in novels – so many great ones in the North East she said and perfect for some dubious goings on. Next one is set in Cragside so goodness knows what’s going to be happening there. Then there was a bit of ‘scandal’ – Howard Linskey admitted to not being born in the North East – but in a southern town called Kings Lynn! The gasps from the audience….ha not really as he redeemed himself by the fact his family moved to Durham when he was three, and he HAS got the local accent so he remained on the panel 😉 . Shelley Day as host probably realised that since Stella Moon was keen on confesssions it was alright if Howard was too.
Femmes Fatales
On the Femmes Fatales panel – two authors Alex Gray and Alanna Knight were unable to attend due to last minute issues (probably fighting bad guys) as The Two Jackies turned up. Jackie Baldwin who sets her novels in Dumfries and Jackie McLean who sets her book Toxic in Dundee. Well what a nice surprise this was! Not for the two A ladies who couldn’t attend but for the two Jackies who did. Even more crime fighting women who had been kind enough to talk about murder and killings on a sunny saturday…yes, it was sunny in Newcastle on Saturday – that was another shock!
The wise cracking Nordic Panel
The Nordic panel
This was the panel where I laughed, cried and laughed some more. The award for the best one liner goes to Thomas Enger. Sitting, waiting for Antti to talk, he’d mentioned his character and how now he was going to introduce them to the audience. Antti then went to pick up his phone from the table in front of him and quick as a flash, Thomas quipped “Are you going to call them?” Well this brought the house down, and poor Antti had to wait a bit before he did use his phone to read in Finnish and then English. I couldn’t take my eyes off his flash shirt to be honest and so decided to give him the Best Dressed Award at the event. Thomas wins for the one liner and the other cheeky laughs and grins coming from him. These two should be in a comedy duo – with ‘ nicely priced tickets’ – Antti was keen to make the price of a book very attractive indeed.
I was still standing however for my starring role on a panel of crime fiction fans – Karen from Orenda books, Sarah Ward and blogger Vic Watson – this was nerve-wracking but very good fun. Lots of good questions from the audience and a good laugh was had by all. Can’t remember what I said or was asked (it was a blur of nerves and excitement) but people came up to me afterwards and said it was really interesting so that’s always a good sign!
Mari chats crime and Ferraris
Day 3 – Sunday
I had consumed a fair few coffees by this point. Just as well it was on tap, I was practically lying underneath it at one point. Day three was also full of fun – If you didn’t know how to pronounce Mari as in Mari Hannah, then Jacky Collins said she always questioned herself as the name ‘Mari’ just seemed very posh to her so it was more “Marie” given her Spanish language background. Straight-faced, Mari then confirmed the posh credentials – “Just think Mari, like in Ferrari” Another award for best one liner/catchphrase goes to Mari Ferrari Hannah.
The lovely Cally Taylor came to town (how excited was I to see her again!) and the lovely Louise Beech who I now know to be the funniest, cheekiest author I’ve ever had the pleasure to meet. I think their panel should have been called “Shenanigans” or something like that.
Johanna G, Camilla G and The Crow Girl Team
Then…da da daaaaaah The Swedes were in town – I was scared of meeting The Crow Girl team – have you read that book, wouldn’t you be? but they were lovely and the quiz and the drinks in the bar later confirmed that even more! Then the two of the loveliest ladies in crime fiction – Johana Gustawsson of Block 46 fame (whose Swedish husband was sitting in the audience) and Camilla Grebe who I lived very close to in Stockholm without realising! The BookTrail is mentioned on the back Block 46 and inside The Ice Beneath Her so both were signed to keep.
Crime Thriller Girl
Crime Thriller Girl popped up on Panel 14 – the last one of the day and as the bounty hunter of the group had to keep the boisterous Luca Veste and Paul Hardisty in line. With stunning red lipstick (if only I had the confidence to wear that!) and a fascinating backstory of her bounty hunter training, it was a great panel. I’ve known Steph for ages – since her early blogger days and it’s so lovely to see her now on panels and chatting novels from both sides of the fence.
The festival closed at 9pm but drinks and a VERY tough quiz finished off the night as well as many of the participants. I would like to say our team won ( Our team – The Crow Gang featured the ‘Crow Girl’ Boys and Neil their translator amongst others so it was VERY Swedish) I think we came second?
A quiz-tastic end to a criminally good panel and all held together by the wonderful Dr Noir as I’ve called her – Jacky Collins. Glad to see the name has stuck! Well deserved.
355 sleeps to the next one. I’d better get some sleep
With many many thanks to the whole Lit and Phil team and everyone who came and chatted crime fiction. Ah it was a good one. Until next time everyone!
