'DYING' IN IPSWICH!

I'm delighted to say that the 8th Cooper & Fry novel, DYING TO SIN, is this year's 'Festival Read' for Ipswich Arts Festival, which takes place in July.

I'll be appearing at the festival to discuss the book with readers on Saturday 11th July (6.30pm) at the Waterfront Building, University Campus Suffolk.

If you'd like to be there, you can book a place by phone on 01473 433100 or online at:

http://www.ip-art.com/event_listing_details.php?id=44

For more information on the festival, visit their website:

http://www.ip-art.com/

See you there!

NATIONAL PARK CRIME

Uriah Robinson's Crime Scraps blog recently ran a quiz in which readers had to name all 10 national parks in England - and nominate a crime novel set in each one. 

What a great idea. Dartmoor, of course, gives us 'The Hound of the Baskervilles' (one of the earliest examples of 'rural noir'). The Yorkshire Dales belong to Peter Robinson ('Gallows View') and one of the most recent national parks, the New Forest, is the setting for Anne Granger's 'A Mortal Curiosity'. 

Oh, and I'm happy to say that there were no challengers for the UK's very first national park, the Peak District, where most readers who entered the quiz named 'Black Dog'. 

For the full list and lots more, check out the blog:

http://camberwell-crime.blogspot.com

SCORING A GOAL FOR LITERACY

In the UK, Premier League footballers have been chosen as role models to encourage children to read more books. The decision coincides with a study by the National Literacy Trust, which reveals that boys are twice as likely as girls to say sports people can inspire them to read, and that children from the poorest families are also likely to chose sports people as their heroes.

So the 20 Premiership clubs have each nominated a player as a "reading star". Eight out of the 20 clubs selected their goalkeeper as the best role model. 

Now, those 20 players have been asked to name a favourite book, and the results are very interesting. The choices range from Homer's 'Iliad' to 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone'. 

British readers familiar with our current crop of England players might have no trouble guessing which of them aspires no further than the first Harry Potter book. But who chose Homer?

Read the full story in The Independent

THE KILL CALL COUNTDOWN - DAY 1

With the last few hours to go before publication day, I'm going to leave you with a taste of Dovedale, the area I've been researching for the next Cooper & Fry novel. This is a favourite with visitors to the Peak District, and is one of its prettiest attractions. 

They include a picture of one of the Money Trees - old trunks with hundreds of copper coins hammered in to them for good luck.

Let's hope some of that luck comes our way this year!

THE KILL CALL COUNTDOWN - DAY 2

It's April Fool's Day tomorrow. Mmm... Usually we spend the morning searching our newspapers for the most unlikely story, which is usually easily identifiable as a spoof. At the moment, there are so many unlikely stories in the news that it might prove a bit more difficult this year. The Home Secretary claiming the cost of porn films on her expenses, anyone?

Well, the day before publication of THE KILL CALL I'll be spending in the Peak District. I'll be somewhere out in the neighbourhood of Dovedale, hoping that the weather will hold out and that the Easter holiday crowds haven't arrived yet (you don't want to be in Dovedale on a Bank Holiday).

Because, yes, I'm currently working on the next Cooper & Fry novel after THE KILL CALL. Ideally, publishers like the next book to be finished before the previous one is published. They're not quite to going to get it, but being a bit behind on my deadline is nothing knew. 

So while you're all getting stuck into the new book, my head will be full of a brand new story for Ben Cooper and Diane Fry. I'm giving nothing away. Though I suppose you might have guessed that a location in Dovedale comes into it somewhere...

For a glimpse of the attractions of Dovedale, try:

National Trust

or

Derbyshire UK

Copies of the new book are becoming available in lots of places. I think the cover of the hardback looks great, and is very tactile (I just love that embossing!). When you manged to get hold of it, please take the time to visit the Stephen Booth Forum to share your opinion.

Finally, a correction to the details of the event in Ely at the end of April. The phone number was wrong, and we now have a start time. This is the correct listing:

THURSDAY 30th APRIL, 7pm
Ely Library, 6 The Cloisters, Ely, Cambridgeshire - talk to readers.
For details, phone 0345 045 5225.

THE KILL CALL COUNTDOWN - DAY 3

George in New York City has checked in to let us know that his copy of THE KILL CALL has already arrived in NYC today, courtesy of Amazon UK and the Royal Mail. So obviously those of you who haven't ordered your copies yet are missing out big time!

The Book Depository are also shipping advance orders. As a result, THE KILL CALL is now their number 2 crime bestseller, sandwiched in between two different editions of Stieg Larsson's THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO:

Book Depository bestsellers

Further events during the summer for readers in the UK:

SATURDAY 25th APRIL, 2pm
Warsop Library, High Street, Warsop, Nottinghamshire - talk to readers.
(For details, phone 01623 842 322)

THURSDAY 30th APRIL (time to be confirmed)
Ely Library, 6 The Cloisters, Ely, Cambridgeshire - talk to readers.
For details, phone 0845 045 5225.

THURSDAY - SUNDAY 14th - 17th MAY
CrimeFest convention, Marriott Royal Hotel, Bristol.
including:
Friday 15th May, 9 - 10am - 'The Big Heat' police procedural panel, with Edward Marston, Alison Bruce, Pauline Rowson and Michael Walters. 
Friday 15th May, 10.30 - 11.30am - 'Write what you know' panel, with Colin Campbell, Keith McCarthy, Priscilla Masters and Sue Walker.
website: http://www.crimefest.com

WEDNESDAY 20th MAY, 6pm
Bollington Arts Centre, Wellington Road, Bollington, Cheshire - event for Bollington Festival.
Tickets £6 (children £4) bookable online at: http://www.bollingtonfestival.org.uk/eventDetail.asp?eventId=178
by phone on 01625 573863 or by email: boxoffice@bollingtonfestival.org.uk

TUESDAY 26th MAY, 7.30pm  
La Zouch Restaurant, Kilwardby Street, Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire - talk to Ashby Writers' Group.
For details, phone 01530 413371.
website: http://www.freewebs.com/barneyc/index.htm

SATURDAY 11th JULY, 6.30pm 
Waterfront Building, University Campus Suffolk, Ipswich - 'Festival Read' event for Ipswich Arts Festival. 
(this year's Festival Read will be the 8th Cooper & Fry novel, DYING TO SIN)
TIckets £7/£5 concessions. For more information or to book a place, phone 01473 433100.
website: http://www.ip-art.com

SATURDAY 12th SEPTEMBER, 2.30pm 
Reading Town Hall, Reading, Berkshire - 'Pyschological Crime' panel for Reading Festival of Crime Writing.
(Details to be confirmed)
website: http://www.readingfestivalofcrimewriting.org.uk

Shortly, I will also be signing copies of THE KILL CALL for several UK book dealers who specialise in signed first editions. These are the books for you collectors out there. If you're itnerested, try one of these dealers:

Post Mortem Books

Adam Smith Books

Alan White Fine Books

Goldsboro Books

In the USA, specialist mystery bookstore The Poisoned Pen will also be shipping some signed copies of the new book. But remember that numbers are limited!

THE KILL CALL COUNTDOWN - DAY 4

Thanks to Sharlene of Toronto, who has emailed to tell me that HarperCollins Canada are now giving April 17th as their publication date for the THE KILL CALL. Amazon Canada agree with them - though Chapters Indigo still say it's May 15th. We shall see...

No doubt here in the UK, though, where there are definitely just four days to go! I'll be out and about as usual, meeting readers and signing copies of the new book. This year, my 'launch' signing will actually be in the Peak District. Sounds logical - but I think this is actually the first time it's happened!

The location will be Scarthin Books, in Cromford, which has the honour of being mentioned in SCARED TO LIVE as the "quirky little bookshop" where Ben Cooper is tempted to call in for a slice of homity pie. "Quirky" is definitely the word for Scarthin Books, and I dfon't think owners Dave and Clare would disagree. Their own slogan is "Britain's most enjoyable bookshop".

I'll be at Scarthin Books on Saturday 4th April, between 2 and 4pm. Naturally, I'd be delighted to see you at Cromford. You can also order a signed copy online or by calling 01629 823272.

Following my policy of supporting independent bookshops whenever possible, my second signing for THE KILL CALL will be at another local store, Bookworm in Retford, Nottinghamshire, on Saturday 10th April (10am to 12 noon). Again, owners Paul and Angerla will be happy to take your orders for signed copies in advance. They tell me they are also happy to take overseas orders. Contact them by email at sales@bookworm-online.co.uk - or you can phone with your credit card card details on 01777 869224 (+44 1777 869224 from outside the UK).

Later on, I have a number of festivals and library events to attend. Keep up to date with the latest news of events on the Stephen Booth website.