A NEW STANDALONE - DROWNED LIVES

My Derbyshire police detectives Ben Cooper and Diane Fry are on holiday at the moment (I think they deserved it after 18 novels and all those murders!). 

So my next book, due out in the UK in August, will be something different - a standalone novel with a historical theme, called DROWNED LIVES.

This is set in Derbyshire's neighbouring county, Staffordshire, and in particular around the fascinating city of Lichfield, which is packed with history. 

DROWNED LIVES is a story of family secrets and a centuries-old feud, told against a background of the often dark history of inland waterways, from their origins in the industrial revolution to the restoration projects of recent decades. 

Even now, the West Midlands region of England contains more than 500 miles of canal, which run not only through countryside but right into the centre of major urban areas like Birmingham. 

Canals are very appealing as a setting for crime fiction. They may appear very peaceful on the surface, but they attract all kinds of crime. And who knows what's under the surface? When something (or someone) disappears into water, we tend to think it's lost for ever. But we may be wrong... 

I've always loved to explore the ways the past can affect the present, and in DROWNED LIVES council officer Chris Buckley is about to discover a lot of things from his past which he might have preferred not to know.

I set this book in the late 1990s. That's only 20 years ago, but it feels like a historical period - there were no smartphones, and the internet was just becoming more popular. Remember the dot.com bubble? Companies like eBay were starting up, but a lot of investors in other internet start-ups got their fingers badly burned.

The point where the 20th century was about to give way to the 21st felt like an interesting time to explore the buried secrets of the past.

DROWNED LIVES will be published by Sphere in hardback and ebook on 15th August 2019, along with an audio download. 

I hope you enjoy reading something a bit different!

DROWNED LIVES can be pre-ordered in all the usual places, including your local bookshop or online here:

Waterstones:

https://www.waterstones.com/book/drowned-lives/stephen-booth/9780751576283

WH Smith:

https://www.whsmith.co.uk/products/drowned-lives/stephen-booth/hardback/9780751576283.html

Amazon UK:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Drowned-Lives-Stephen-Booth/dp/075157628X/

The Book Depository:

https://www.bookdepository.com/Drowned-Lives-Stephen-Booth/9780751576283

The Hive:

https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/Stephen-Booth/Drowned-Lives/23831158

*The Book Depository offers free shipping to readers in the USA (and many other countries).

Of course, I'll also be doing a number of events and signings following publication, including:

THURSDAY 15th August, 11am - 1pm
Retford Library, Churchgate, Retford, Nottinghamshire DN22 6PE - book signing for DROWNED LIVES (in conjunction with Bookworm of Retford). To reserve a signed copy, phone 01777 869224 or email: sales@bookwormretford.co.uk
https://bookwormretford.co.uk/events/

SATURDAY 17th AUGUST, 9.30am onwards
Chesterfield Library, New Beetwell Street, Chesterfield, Derbyshire S40 1QN - Derbyshire Noir one-day crime writing festival, with many other local authors including Sarah Ward, Roz Watkins, Sophie Draper, Jo Jakeman, Fran Dorricott, Caroline England, Tony R. Cox, James Ellson, Andrew Lowe, and Sylvia Marsden.
Tickets available now. Book online here:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/derbyshire-noir-book-festival-2019-tickets-60198444167

SUNDAY 18th AUGUST, 1-3pm
High Peak Bookstore, Ashbourne Road, Brierlow Bar, near Buxton, Derbyshire SK17 9PY - signing for DROWNED LIVES. http://highpeakbookstore.co.uk/

TUESDAY 20th AUGUST, 7 for 7.30pm
Bakewell Bookshop, Matlock Street, Bakewell, Derbyshire DE45 1EE - talk and signing for DROWNED LIVES. Tickets £5 including glass of wine and nibbles. To book, phone 01629 812818 or email: info@thebakewellbookshop.co.uk http://www.thebakewellbookshop.co.uk

THURSDAY 29th AUGUST, time tba
Gillingham Library, High Street, Gillingham, Medway, Kent ME7 1BG - talk and signing.
(Details to follow)

SATURDAY 24th AUGUST, 2 - 4pm
Scarthin Books, The Promenade, Cromford, Derbyshire DE4 3QF - book signing for DROWNED LIVES. http://www.scarthinbooks.com/

SATURDAY 31st AUGUST, 12 - 2pm
Reading Matters Bookshop, 48 Market Street, Chapel-en-le-Frith, Derbyshire SK23 0HY - signing for DROWNED LIVES. https://readingmattersbookshop.co.uk/

MURDER IN THE PEAKS

For readers in the Derbyshire area, the last chance this summer to hear me talking about the Peak District locations in the Cooper & Fry series and the new Cooper & Fry novel SECRETS OF DEATH will be on Thursday 14th July at my 'Murder in the Peaks' event for Buxton Festival Fringe. 

This is the first time I'll be taking part in the Fringe, which is one of the highlights of July in Derbyshire. 

On the evening, there will also be a chance to ask all those questions you've been itching to get answers to. And copies of SECRETS OF DEATH, and all previous Cooper and Fry titles, will be on sale at a special event discount.

So make sure your book your places now! Tickets are just £6 (£5 concessions), available from the box office at Buxton Opera House:
http://www.buxtonoperahouse.org.uk/murder-in-the-peaks

You can also now order tickets via PayPal from my website:(it isn't necessary to have a PayPal account yourself, but you will need a credit card):
http://stephen-booth.com/BuxtonFringe.htm

Don't forget the date - Thursday 14th July. See you there!

Date:      THURSDAY 14th JULY
Time:     7.15pm
Venue:   Buxton Methodist Church Hall, Market Place, Buxton, Derbyshire SK17 6HX
Event:    'Murder in the Peaks', with talk, Q&A and book signing.
Tickets:  £6 (£5 concessions) *

* Concession ticket price is for under-16s, over 65s, students or unwaged.

Directions:

Buxton Methodist Church is centrally located on Buxton Market Place, and the entrance to the church hall is a few yards along Chapel Street. The postcode is SK17 6HX.

There is pay-and-display parking in the Market Place, as well as some on-street parking on either side of the church in Chapel Street and Fountain Street. If busy, a larger pay-and-display car park can be accessed from Market Street or Clough Street, and is just a short walk through an alley to the church hall.

A NEW COOPER & FRY NOVEL - SECRETS OF DEATH

The new Cooper & Fry novel SECRETS OF DEATH has arrived! UK hardback and ebook editions are released this week. 

SECRETS OF DEATH introduces a new phenomenon - suicide tourists, people who have decided the Peak District is a good place to die. The story involves DI Ben Cooper and his team from Edendale CID investigating a sudden upsurge in suicides, not knowing where the next death might happen.

 

And when a suspect in a Major Crime Unit investigation goes missing, Cooper faces two more challenges - the arrival of DS Diane Fry from Nottingham, and the possibility that one of these deaths wasn't suicide at all...

In the UK, you can buy the hardback and ebook editions in all the usual places:

Amazon UK:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Secrets-Death-Cooper-Stephen-Booth/dp/0751559989/stephenbootho-21

Waterstones:
https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-secrets-of-death/stephen-booth/9780751559989

WH Smith:
http://www.whsmith.co.uk/products/the-secrets-of-death-cooper-and-fry-16/9780751559989

The Hive:
http://www.hive.co.uk/Product/Stephen-Booth/The-Secrets-of-Death/18735717

or call in at your local bookshop.

An audio download edition of SECRETS OF DEATH is also released today. Publication dates will follow soon in other countries such as Canada, Australia and New Zealand. We're still awaiting news of publication in the USA.

I'll be doing a launch event for SECRETS OF DEATH this Friday (17th June) at Spring Bank Arts, New Mills, Derbyshire. I'm on at 7.30pm (but the bar opens at 7pm!). Tickets are £7, including a glass of Pimms, available from Spring Bank Arts on 01663 308202 or springbankarts@gmail.com, from High Street Books in New Mills, or online here:
http://www.wegottickets.com/event/357413

On Saturday I'll be at Bookworm bookshop in Retford, Nottinghamshire, from 10am - 12noon to sign copies of SECRETS OF DEATH. To order a signed copy in advance, phone the shop on 01777 869224 or email: sales@bookwormretford.co.uk

On Sunday I'll be at Lowdham Book Festival in Nottinghamshire for the festival's 'Day of Crime'. Also taking part are Elly Griffiths, Sharon Bolton, Anne Zouroudi, Steven Dunne, Sarah Ward, Chris Ewan and Robert Thorogood. Full day tickets are £15 (£12 concessions, £10 festival friends).
http://www.lowdhambookfestival.co.uk/

Don't miss your chance to get a signed copy of the new book - just in time for Father's Day too!

Other dates here:
http://www.stephen-booth.com/events.htm

NOTTINGHAM CRIME EVENING

Don't miss 'The Line-Up' - an evening of crime fiction coming up at Waterstones Nottingham on Friday 6th November.

Suspect number one: Steven Dunne

Steven's explosive and gripping self-published debut in 2008, 'The Reaper', dropped a bomb on the crime scene and led to a string of thrillers starring the troubled DI Damen Brook. He presents Eexhibit A: his latest novel 'A Killing Moon'.

Suspect number two: Glenis Wilson 

Already a celebrated author of literary fiction Glenis has turned her talented hand to crime, 'Dead Certainty' was released earlier this year to widespread acclaim. She will bring Exhibit B: her second crime novel set in the hidden underbelly of the world of horse racing, 'Dead On Course'.

Suspect number three: Stephen Booth

Derbyshire's grand master, the multiple award-winner has a rap-sheet 15 novels long, starring his contrasting characters, Cooper and Fry. Exhibit C is the latest Cooper & Fry novel 'The Murder Road'.

Tickets are just £3 from Waterstones. Call now to reserve your place!

Tickets and further details on: 0115 947 0069

https://www.waterstones.com/events/the-line-up-with-steven-dunne-glenis-wilson-and-stephen-booth/nottingham

BOOKS IN THE CASTLE - WITH PETER ROBINSON

In August, Nottinghamshire hosts a new literary event when the first Newark Book Festival is held. It boasts a fantastic venue in the grounds of the historic Newark Castle (hence the festival's tagline 'Books in the Castle'). 

The castle's long history includes its important role in the English Civil War and its fame as the place where King John died after issuing Magna Carta and suffering a disaster crossing The Wash. The castle stands right alongside the River Trent, and Newark has many other attractions to make it well worth a visit if you've never been before.

This festival came about following an event I did at the Storytellers Bookshop in Tuxford, Nottinghamshire, earlier this year. During a chat with the owner, Paul Trickett, he mentioned that he lived in Newark and that he'd always thought the town should have its own book festival. I thought so too, and added "someone ought to organise one". And Paul went off and did it! 

He's done an amazing job putting it all together and getting some fantastic authors to take part over the two days (Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th August). Please come along and support it if you're in the area. 

Full details of the festival are on the 'Books in the Castle' website here:

http://www.booksinthecastle.co.uk/

And I'll be there, of course. On the Saturday I'm doing a special event with one of our top crime novelists - the wonderful Peter Robinson (pictured left), author of the Inspector Banks series (now DCI Banks on TV). I've been reading Peter's books for years, and I'm thrilled to be sharing the stage with him (or a marquee, at least). 

Our crime fiction event will be on Saturday 8th August at 4pm, when we'll be chaired by Hull crime writer Nick Quantrill. 

Though admission to the castle grounds is free for the festival, places for our event are limited and tickets are £8 each. Tickets are available from WH Smith 38 Market Place, Newark (phone 01636 677518), or from the Secret Garden Cafe, 6 Stodman Street, Newark (phone 01636 676999) or can be booked online here:

http://www.etickets.to/buy/?e=12869

Don't forget - the capacity of the marquee is limited, so don't delay in reserving your places! 

Books will also be available to buy and get signed on the day, of course.   

COUNTDOWN TO THE MURDER ROAD

The 15th novel featuring young Derbyshire police detectives Ben Cooper and Diane Fry will be published in the UK on 16th July. 

THE MURDER ROAD explores the consequences on a tiny Peak District community when a lorry which becomes jammed under a railway bridge is found to have a blood-stained cab and a missing driver. 

For residents in the hamlet of Shawhead, there's only one way in and one way out. And some of them may never go out at all.  Detective Inspector Ben Cooper is on the scene with his team from Derbyshire E Division. But the one person who may hold the answers to the mystery is found hanging from a walkway high over the river in the nearby town of New Mills. 

With the arrival of a new sergeant, Cooper is unsure of his position in E Division. So who will he turn to when his case takes a dramatic turn?

THE MURDER ROAD is set around the towns of New Mills and Whaley Bridge, in the north west corner of Derbyshire. Locations range from the Torrs gorge under New Mills, with its spectacular Millennium Walkway (above), to the recently restored canal complex at Bugsworth Basin (below). 







Launch events are coming up soon for THE MURDER ROAD. 

I'll be doing two evenings around publication time - one at Chesterfield Library (Wednesday 15th July) and a second at Spring Bank Arts in New Mills (Friday 17th July) - followed by signings at bookshops in Retford, Cromford and Chapel-en-le-Frith.

To make sure of a place at the launch events, book your tickets now. Details of how to book are below: 

WEDNESDAY 15th JULY, 7pm
Chesterfield Library Theatre, New Beetwell Street, Chesterfield, Derbyshire S40 1QN - launch event for THE MURDER ROAD, in conjunction with Waterstones Chesterfield. Tickets £5. To book a place, visit the Chesterfield Library help desk, or phone the library on 01629 533400.

FRIDAY 17th JULY, 7.30pm

Spring Bank Arts, Spring Bank, New Mills, Derbyshire SK22 4BH - launch event for THE MURDER ROAD. Tickets £6 (including a glass of Pimms) are available from Spring Bank Arts, from High Street Books in New Mills, or online at: http://www.wegottickets.com/event/324352

SATURDAY 18th JULY, 10am - 12pm
Bookworm, 1 Spa Lane, Retford, Nottinghamshire DN22 6EA - signing for THE MURDER ROAD. Phone 01777 869224 or email: sales@bookwormretford.co.uk

SATURDAY 18th JULY, 2.30 - 4.30pm
Scarthin Books, The Promenade, Cromford, Derbyshire DE4 3QF - signing for THE MURDER ROAD. Phone 01629 823272 or email: nickscarthin@gmail.com

SATURDAY 25th JULY, 10.30am - 12.30pm
Reading Matters, 48 Market Street, Chapel-en-le-Frith, High Peak, Derbyshire SK23 0HY - signing for THE MURDER ROAD. Phone 01298 938166 or email: readingmatterschapel@gmail.com

Meanwhile, THE MURDER ROAD can be pre-ordered in hardback and ebook editions here:

Amazon UK:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Murder-Road-Cooper-Fry/dp/0751559946/

Waterstones:
http://www.waterstones.com/book/the-murder-road/stephen-booth/9780751559941

The Hive:
http://www.hive.co.uk/book/the-murder-road/20630776/

Or call in at your local independent bookshop to get it on order! 

UK EVENTS FOR AUTUMN 2014

I'm about to do my last event for the summer, but I start again in September - so I thought I'd post some advance details of dates coming up in the Autumn for the UK. 

This is what I have booked so far, though some of the details are still to be confirmed:

WEDNESDAY 10th SEPTEMBER, 7pm
Hinckley Library, Lancaster Road, Hinckley, Leicestershire LE10 0AT - talk to readers, with Q&A and book signing. Tickets £4 for library members, £8 for non-members (including refreshments). Phone 0116 305 2500 or email: hinckleylibrary@leics.gov.uk

WEDNESDAY 17th SEPTEMBER, 7.45pm
Sutton Village Hall, Nottinghamshire - talk to members of Sutton and Barnby Women's Institute.

THURSDAY 25th SEPTEMBER, 11.30am
Bertie's Banqueting Rooms, Brook Street, Elland, West Yorkshire HX5 9AW - NSPCC Literary Lunch (with Carol Ann Lee). Tickets £19.50 including two-course lunch and coffee. Proceeds to the NSPCC.

SUNDAY 5th OCTOBER, time tba
Barton's, 63 High Road, Chilwell, Nottingham NG9 4AJ - 'Not the Hay Festival' with New Writers UK. FREE event. Website: http://www.bartonsplc.co.uk/index.php/2012-01-23-22-20-20/not-the-hay-book-festival-nottingham

WEDNESDAY 15th OCTOBER, time tba
Galleries of Justice, High Pavement, The Lace Market, Nottingham NG1 1HN - Crime Day for Nottingham Festival of Words. Details to follow.

THURSDAY 23rd OCTOBER, time tbc
Derry Central Library, 35 Foyle Street, Londonderry, Northern Ireland BT48 6AL - talk to readers for October Crime Fest. Details to follow.

WEDNESDAY 5th NOVEMBER, 10.30am
Walsall Readers' Day, Forest Arts Centre, Hawbush Road, Leamore, Walsall, West Midlands WS3 1AG - with Annie Murray. Details to follow.

TUESDAY 9th DECEMBER, 7pm
Waterstone's, 27 Frenchgate Centre, Doncaster, South Yorkshire DN1 1LJ - talk and signing.
Details to follow.

BUILDING THE CORPSE BRIDGE

On the run-up to publication of THE CORPSE BRIDGE this week, I was asked to write a piece for the blog of UK booksellers Waterstones, where I talk about the role the Peak District plays in the Cooper & Fry series. They call it 'Building The Corpse Bridge'. You can read the full blog piece here:

http://www.waterstones.com/blog/2014/06/building-the-corpse-bridge/

You can also get a sneak peek of the new book on the CrimeVault website:

http://www.thecrimevault.com/ebooks/the-corpse-bridge/

Several launch events for THE CORPSE BRIDGE are coming up soon. It's always great to see lots of Cooper & Fry readers, so come along if you get the chance.

First off, I'll be appearing at Gedling Book Festival in Nottingham this Friday (20th June). This is a terrific three-day festival, which is now in its second year. It's hosted by Gedling Borough Council and organised by New Writers UK. Friday is Crime and History Day, with events taking place at the Bonington Theatre in Arnold. 

All the events are free, and my session is at 1.30pm. Waterstones Nottingham will be on hand with books for sale. More details of the festival are here:

http://jo0373.wix.com/newwritersuk/#!events/c1qu7

Immediately after my appearance at Gedling Book Festival, I'll be heading off into Derbyshire to do a launch evening at Chesterfield Library, starting at 7.30pm. This is again organised in conjunction with Waterstones Chesterfield, who will be providing the book stall. This is a ticketed event (tickets £3, concessions £2) available from the library. To make sure of a place, phone 01629 533400.

These events will be followed by signings at several bookshops in the area. On Saturday (21st June), I'll be at Bookworm in Retford, Nottinghamshire, from 10am to 12 noon, then from 2.30pm I'll be signing THE CORPSE BRIDGE at Scarthin Books in Cromford, Derbyshire. Both will be happy to reserve signed copies for you. Contact Bookworm on 01777 869224 or sales@bookwormretford.co.uk, while Scarthin can be contacted on 01629 823272 or nickscarthin@gmail.com. 

Next week, I'll be doing an evening event at Waterstones in Derby (Thursday 26th June, 7pm start), and on Saturday 28th I'll be down in Buckinghamshire to take part in the BeaconLit Festival at Ivinghoe, near Leighton Buzzard: http://www.beaconlit.co.uk/  

Later in the year, watch out for more library events in Barnard Castle in County Durham, St Anne's in Lancashire, Ecclesfield in Bradford, Hinckley in Leicestershire, Walsall in the West Midlands, and a visit being planned to Northern Ireland. 

There will also be a special Summer Crime Party at Heffers' bookshop in Cambridge, and I'll be back at 'Not the Hay Festival' in Beeston, Nottingham, during October.

COMING SOON: THE CORPSE BRIDGE

The 14th Cooper & Fry novel THE CORPSE BRIDGE is due for publication very soon in the UK (19th June, in fact). You can get a sneak peek at the new book here:

http://www.thecrimevault.com/ebooks/the-corpse-bridge/

Launch events are coming up in the UK during the next few weeks:

FRIDAY 20th JUNE, 1.30pm
Gedling Book Festival, Bonington Theatre, Front Street, Arnold, Nottingham NG5 7EE - talk and signing (with New Writers UK). FREE admission. Festival details here: http://jo0373.wix.com/newwritersuk/#!events/c1qu7

FRIDAY 20th JUNE, 7.30pm
Chesterfield Library Theatre, New Beetwell Street, Chesterfield, Derbyshire S40 1QN - launch for the 14th Cooper & Fry novel THE CORPSE BRIDGE (in conjunction with Waterstones Chesterfield). Tickets £3 (concessions £2) available from the library. To book a place, phone 01629 533400.

SATURDAY 21st JUNE, 10am - 12noon
Bookworm bookshop, Spa Lane, Retford, Nottinghamshire DN22 6EA - signing for THE CORPSE BRIDGE.
Phone 01777 869224 or email: sales@bookwormretford.co.uk

SATURDAY 21st JUNE, 2.30 - 4.30pm
Scarthin Books, The Promenade, Cromford, Derbyshire DE4 3QF - signing for THE CORPSE BRIDGE.
Phone 01629 823272 or email: nickscarthin@gmail.com

THURSDAY 26th JUNE, 7pm
Waterstones, 78-80 St Peter's Street, Derby DE1 1SR - talk and signing for THE CORPSE BRIDGE.
Phone 01332 296997 or email: derby@waterstones.com

SATURDAY 28th JUNE, 4pm
BeaconLit Festival, Brookmead School, High St, Ivinghoe, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire LU7 9EX - crime panel with Jane Isaac, Anya Lipska and Dave Sivers. Full-day pass £13.50, afternoon pass £9.00. Book via the festival website: http://www.beaconlit.co.uk/

TUESDAY 1st JULY, 5.45pm
Barnard Castle Library, 2 Hall Street, Barnard Castle, County Durham DL12 8JB - talk to readers, with Q&A and book signing. Phone 03000 263 409 or email: bdcaslibrary@durham.gov.uk

SATURDAY 5th JULY, 11.30am - 1.30pm
Waterstones, 27 Frenchgate Centre, Doncaster DN1 1LJ - signing for THE CORPSE BRIDGE.
Phone 01302 329142 or email: doncaster@waterstones.com
 
SATURDAY 12th JULY, 10.30am - 12.30pm
Reading Matters bookshop, 48 Market Street, Chapel-en-le-Frith, Derbyshire SK23 0HY - signing for THE CORPSE BRIDGE. Phone 01298 938166 or email: readingmatterschapel@gmail.com

LOTS OF MAY EVENTS COMING UP!

Things start to get really busy at this time of year! In addition to publication of the new Cooper & Fry novel THE CORPSE BRIDGE in June, I have a series of events coming up in May, when you catch me at various locations around the UK. 

BELPER ARTS FESTIVAL

First off is a 'Meet the Authors' event in Belper, Derbyshire, when I'll be joining 12 other authors at the Strutt's Centre, Belper, this Saturday 3rd May (10am-3pm) to sign books and chat to readers. Copies of all the Cooper & Fry novels will be on sale, and admission to the event is FREE. there should be plenty of time to chat with readers, so come and say 'hello'!

This event is part of Belper Arts Festival, and will be held in conjunction with a craft fair at the Strutt's Centre, which is an interesting building in itself - a former grammar school built in 1909 but now converted into a community centre (pictured left). 

Belper is a fascinating little Derbyshire town, a bit outside the Peak District, but right at the heart of the Lower Derwent Valley, which has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site as the historic birthplace of the factory system. The heritage site runs along the length of the River Derwent from Masson Mill at Matlock Bath to the Silk Mill in Derby. More information here: 
http://www.derwentvalleymills.org/

A VISIT TO THE SOUTH WEST

From May 15th - 18th, I'll be travelling to the South West of England to take part in the crime fiction festival CrimeFest in Bristol. I'm appearing on two interesting panels to discuss '21st Century Police Procedurals' and 'Forgotten Authors'. I'll be in discussion with some old acquaintances like John Harvey and Martin Edwards, and others I'll be meeting for the first time, such as Clare Donoghue, Quentin Bates and Fergus McNeill. It's a few years since I was last at CrimeFest, so I'm sure there'll be lots of other people to catch up with!

While I'm in that part of the country, I'll be taking the opportunity to do two library events in areas I don't get chance to visit very often. On Thursday 15th May I'll be across the river from Bristol to talk to readers at Chepstow Library in Monmouthshire, while on Friday 16th May I'll be down in Somerset for an event at Wells Library. 

I was particularly keen to do something in the part of Somerset after watching the news of the devastating floods they experienced throughout much of the winter. Living in a rural area myself, I know the consequences of such a disaster will continue for years after the pictures of flooded villages have disappeared from our TV screens. Making an offer to do an event for local readers made me feel just a bit less helpless.

The following week, on my return from Bristol, I'll be making a return visit to Bollington Festival in Cheshire, when I'll be doing an Author Evening at Bollington Arts Centre on 21st May. This is not the first time I've been asked to go back somewhere 'by popular request'! Though I'm reminded of a joke told by Mark Billingham: "You only go to the same place twice - once when you're on the way up, and once on the way down. So thank you for having me back again!"

CLUMBER PARK LITERARY LUNCH

The next day, I'm back home in Nottinghamshire to do a special event for Notts readers in the form of a Literary Lunch at the Clumber Park Hotel, situated in the heart of the county's Dukeries area (Clumber Park Hotel pictured below). 

Many visitors to Nottinghamshire will be familiar with the Dukeries, and with Clumber Park in particular. 

This area used to part of Sherwood Forest, but was divided up by various rich aristocrats to create huge landscaped estates on which they built mansions for themselves. Some of those historic houses still remain - such as Welbeck Abbey, Thoresby Hall and Rufford Abbey - but the vast Clumber House, home of the Dukes of Newcastle, was demolished in 1938. The park, lake and surviving buildings are now in the ownership of the National Trust and attract many thousands of visitors every year. 

The Clumber Park Hotel stands just opposite one of the entrances to the park. You could have a morning out in the lovely Clumber Park, then come and join us for lunch! 

Also speaking at the literary lunch will be the Sheffield writer Samantha Priestley, author of 'Despite Losing it on Finkle Street'. The event is being organised in conjunction with one of my favourite independent bookshops, Bookworm of Retford, and it coincides with the paperback release of the 13th Cooper & Fry novel ALREADY DEAD on 22nd May. 

Book your tickets from the hotel, or from Bookworm on 01777 869224 or sales@bookwormretford.co.uk

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=653294964718568&set=a.150978088283594.25915.150972351617501&type=1&theater

Finally, the month of May concludes with an event at Doncaster Central Library - the official opening of Doncaster's 'Turn the Page' literary festival on Tuesday 27th May.

There will also be lots more dates following publication of THE CORPSE BRIDGE in June. Note the date for the launch event in Chesterfield is Friday 20th June. 

For more details of these and other events, visit the Events Page:

http://www.stephen-booth.com/events.htm

SPRING EVENTS START THIS MONTH

After a quiet couple of months for events, I have some Spring dates coming up later in March. They include two dates for Leicestershire's 'Words on the Street' festival - at Coalville Library on Friday 14th March (12pm) and at Blaby Library on Monday 24th March (7.30pm).

In between, I'll be in North Wales for the Flintshire ArtsFest, when I'm doing an event at Holywell Library on Friday 21st March (also at 7.30pm). At the end of the month, I'll also be talking to members of the Derby NHS Retirement Fellowship, and taking part in the Writers' Conference at Nottingham University. At the beginning of April I'll be chatting to aspiring writers again when I visit the 'World of Writing and Publishing' course at Derby's Quad arts centre.

More bookings are steadily coming in for events this summer. In May, I'll be attending CrimeFest in Bristol for the first time in a few years. Do say 'hello' if you're going to be there! Then there are festival events during May in Bollington, Cheshire, and Doncaster, South Yorkshire. 

More locally, in Nottinghamshire, I'll be doing a special event in the form of a Literary Lunch at the Clumber Park Hotel in the heart of the county's Dukeries area. Also appearing will be Samantha Priestley, author of 'Despite Losing it on Finkle Street', and the event is organised in conjunction with one of my favourite independent bookshops, Bookworm of Retford. The event coincides with the paperback release of the 13th Cooper & Fry novel ALREADY DEAD on 22nd May.

FRIDAY 14th MARCH, 12pm
Coalville Library, High Street, Coalville, Leicestershire, LE67 3EA - talk to readers for Leicestershire's 'Words on the Street' Festival. Tickets £3, booking essential. Tel: 0116 305 3565 or email: coalvillelibrary@leics.gov.uk

FRIDAY 21st MARCH, 7.30pm
Holywell Library, North Road, Holywell, Flintshire CH8 7TQ - talk to readers for Flintshire Arts Festival.
Tickets £4, available from Holywell Library on 01352 713157 (booking essential).

MONDAY 24th MARCH, 7pm
Blaby Library, Lutterworth Road, Blaby, Leicestershire LE8 4DW - talk to readers for Leicestershire's 'Words on the Street' Festival. Tickets £3 (including refreshments), booking essential. Tel: 0116 305 3516 or email: blabylibrary@leics.gov.uk

FRIDAY 28th MARCH, 2.30pm
Mickleover Country Club, Derby - talk to members of Derby NHS Retirement Fellowship.

SATURDAY 29th MARCH, 9.30am onwards      ** Now sold out **
Writers' Conference, Portland Building, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD - panel on 'Building Your Audience'. Conference details: http://writingeastmidlands.co.uk/projects/the_writers_conference/

THURSDAY 15th - SUNDAY 18th MAY
CrimeFest, Marriott Royal Hotel, College Green, Bristol BS1 5TA.
website: http://www.crimefest.com/

WEDNESDAY 21st MAY, 7.30pm
Bollington Arts Festival, Bollington Arts Centre, Wellington Road, Bollington, Cheshire SK10 5JR - author evening. Tickets £8, book online here:
http://www.bollingtonfestival.org.uk/events/25-stephen-booth-crime-writer

THURSDAY 22nd MAY, 12.30 for 1pm
Clumber Park Hotel, Blyth Road, near Worksop, Nottinghamshire S80 3PA - literary lunch, talk and book signing, in conjunction with Bookworm, Retford (with Samantha Priestley, author of 'Despite Losing it on Finkle Street'). Tickets £18.50 including two-course lunch and coffee, available from the Clumber Park Hotel on 01623 835333 or from Bookworm on 01777 869224.
Hotel website: http://www.clumberparkhotel.com/
Email: enquiries@clumberparkhotel.com

TUESDAY 27th MAY, 7pm
Doncaster Literary Festival, Doncaster Central Library, Waterdale, Doncaster, South Yorkshire DN1 3JE - talk to readers. Details to follow.

WEDNESDAY 11th JUNE, 12pm
Trent Lock Golf Club, Sawley, Derbyshire NG10 2FY - talk to members of Long Eaton Ladies Luncheon Club.

FRIDAY 20th JUNE, time tbc
Gedling Book Festival, Arnot Hill Park, Arnold, Nottingham NG5 6LU - talk and signing (in conjunction with New Writers UK). Details to follow.

SATURDAY 21st JUNE, 10am - 12noon
Bookworm bookshop, Spa Lane, Retford, Nottinghamshire DN22 6EA - signing for the 14th Cooper & Fry novel THE CORPSE BRIDGE.
Phone 01777 869224 or email: sales@bookwormretford.co.uk
website: http://www.bookwormretford.co.uk/

SATURDAY 21st JUNE, 2.30 - 4.30pm
Scarthin Books, The Promenade, Cromford, Derbyshire DE4 3QF - signing for the 14th Cooper & Fry novel THE CORPSE BRIDGE.
Phone 01629 823272 or email: nickscarthin@gmail.com
website: http://www.scarthinbooks.com/

THURSDAY 26th JUNE, 7pm
Waterstones, 78-80 Peter Street, Derby DE1 1SR - talk and signing for the 14th Cooper & Fry novel THE CORPSE BRIDGE.
Phone 01332 296997

SATURDAY 28th JUNE, time tbc
BeaconLit Festival, Brookmead School, High St, Ivinghoe, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire LU7 9EX - crime panel. Festival website: http://www.beaconlit.co.uk/

Coventry event for National Crime Writing Month

An event at Coventry Central Library on Tuesday 2nd July (5.30pm start) will be my first event for Week 5 of National Crime Writing month. This is a FREE event for readers in Coventry. To book a place, phone 02476 832314 or email: central.library@coventry.gov.uk. 

On Wednesday 3rd July (7pm), I'll be at Tadcaster Library in North Yorkshire. Tickets are £2, phone the library on 0845 034 9542 or email: tadcaster.library@northyorks.gov.uk. 

Then on Thursday 4th July (7pm), it will be Congleton Library in Cheshire. Tickets are £3.50. To book a place, phone 01260 375550 or email: congleton.library@cheshireeast.gov.uk

The weekend of Week 5 is also busy, with a signing for the new Cooper & Fry novel ALREADY DEAD at Waterstones Doncaster on Saturday 6th July (11.30am - 1.30pm), and an appearance in the Friends of the Peak District story-telling tent at the Cliffhanger Outdoor Festival in Graves Park, Sheffield, at 5pm on Sunday 7th July.

Hope to see plenty of readers at these events! 

And more dates are still to come:
http://www.stephen-booth.com/events.htm

Chellaston Library project, Derby

Readers in the Derby area have two chances to hear me talk about my writing career and the Cooper and Fry novels with a series of events highlighting the facilities of Chellaston Library in the south of the city. The first 'Evening with Stephen Booth' takes place on Tuesday 6th November (7pm start).

I'm honoured to be appointed Chellaston Library Champion by Derby City Council's library services, and I'll be helping to draw attention to the importance of community libraries like Chellaston and the range of facilities available for library users in the area. 

We all know that libraries are a vital part of many communities. They provide a place to meet, chat to like-minded people, make new friends, or join a club. They offer free access to books, online databases and computers, information about starting a business or writing a CV and job clubs for job seekers. You can read with your kids, help them with their home work, and be a reading role model.

Derby City Council have added over 48,000 new items to their shelves in the past year, including all the latest bestsellers. Fiction, non fiction, large print, audiobooks, magazines and newspapers are all available, as well as craft clubs, author talks, writing workshops and story times for children, a quiet space to work or study, space to sit down and read a newspaper or magazine. From a writer's point of view, libraries are also important as a place where readers discover new authors.

On Tuesday 6th November, I'll be at Chellaston Library to talk about how I became a writer, about why libraries have been so important to me personally, and why I support them. This will be followed by a question and answer session. The evening starts at 7pm. 

This is a FREE event! All are welcome, but booking is recommended. You can phone the library on 01332 702614 for details, or email chellaston.library@derby.gov.uk
or book a place online here: http://stephenbooth1.eventbrite.com/

Chellaston Library is on Barley Croft, off High Street, Chellaston, close to the A514 in the south of Derby. The postcode for your satnavs is DE73 6TU, and you'll find car parking close by. There's a detailed map on the event page:

http://stephenbooth1.eventbrite.com/

For more details about the library's facilities and opening times, click here: http://www.derby.gov.uk/leisure-and-culture/libraries/derby-libraries/chellaston-library/

Following the November event, I'll be back at Chellaston Library in February to talk in more detail about my novels and the Cooper and Fry series. Watch out for more details!