The BookTrail experience of Harrogate

Submitted: 23rd July 2018

There’s something very special about Harrogate and the Theakstons Peculiar Crime Festival. Something very special about visiting the very hotel where Agatha Christie spent ten days hiding out when she ‘went missing’ in 1920. What’s most special however is the people -authors, writers to be, publishers and bloggers and readers who meet to chat books, books and more books!

Since many of us only ‘meet’ on twitter and social media, it’s nice to put faces to names or symbols in the BookTrail’s case!

It is the friendliest festival as people say it is and you see some very funny things! But it’s the book chat, the book love and the book signings which win over…

Some key moments with advice on how to make the most of and enjoy your time there…A tongue and cheek guide to the biggest crime fiction even of the year!

Do what the sign says at Theakstons (c) The BookTrail

First of all, do what the sign says. It would be rude not to. There’s a book tent provided and deckchairs, plus tables and more chairs to help you in your reading …

Food And Drink

There’s plenty of both at Harrogate. Free water too which was useful in this heatwave! There’s a nice barbecue held every evening too. Sandwiches and more inside, then there’s always Betty’s up the road if you fancy a cake or two with a cup of tea in a nice china cup who will wait on you hand and foot. Failing that, bribe an author to go to the bar for you…

Bonnier Zaffre cake at Theakstons (c) The BookTrail

Booky people

Everyone here loves books! I was with my people. Author spotting is a real thing. A lot of fun and even more fun when they say yes to a impromptu photo:

Sometimes there’s a bit of a breeze when you take your pic, but never fear, others wear shades and realise that the weather will change in the next five minutes and the sun will come out again…

Linwood Barclay and Susan TheBookTrailer at Theakstons

There are some authors however who never fear the weather as their hair and look are always immaculate….so much so that other authors and people are jealous and merely walk by in disgust… ( Neil White did win the award for jazzier shirt though)

Will Dean and Susan TheBookTrailer

Then there’s the old joke about how some people are so tall that the weather could well be different where they are. But no such jokes here. Just a message that Richard Osman is just as nice as he is on the telly and in fact even more so. Funny and deprecating in equal measure and very quick with the one liners!. The panel with him, Mark Billingham , Martyn Waites, and Laura Lippman was one of the funniest ever at Harrogate! The difference in height between Richard and me however shocked one particular author more than I had realised…..Stav Sherez I hope you’ve recovered from the shock!

Richard Osman and Susan TheBookTrailer

Then there’s the book marketing you’re invited to take part in. This was fun! The book is fab and the author completely lovely! We had some fun doing this let me tell you…Thank goodness for Primark nail polish that’s all I can say!

Fun book marketing at Theakstons (c) Alison Barrow

Unexpected musical interludes…

You try to get a pic of three authors and another one starts an impromptu musical session just nearby…Be prepared for anything at Harrogate! (Notice the girl in the background enjoying the performance and clearly expecting the three authors to turn around a la Abba and start dancing and singing..