Kate Mosse

There has been a change to the line-up of previously announced 2012 Special Guests. Sadly, Charlaine Harris is no longer able to make the trip to the UK this summer due to family commitments. It’s not all bad news though – far from it! – as we are delighted to announce that joining the Special Guest roster in Charlaine’s place is the internationally bestselling author and co-founder of the Orange Prize for Fiction, Kate Mosse.

Kate Mosse is the author of two non-fiction books, two plays and five novels, including the multi-million selling international No. 1 bestseller, Labyrinth. The first of her Languedoc Trilogy, it was translated into 37 languages and published in 40 countries. The second in the series, Sepulchre, was also a No. 1 bestseller, as was The Winter Ghosts, a novella based on her contribution to Quick Reads 2008, The Cave. The third in her Languedoc trilogy, Citadel, will be published in September 2012.

While we are sorry not to have the pleasure of welcoming the author of the Sookie Stackhouse novels to Harrogate in 2012, we hope that we will have the opportunity in future years and wish Charlaine Harris and her family all the very best. We are sorry for any disappointment this change to the programme may cause.

Kate Mosse will appear alongside fellow 2012 Special Guests Harlan Coben, John Connolly, Peter James, Jo Nesbo, Ian Rankin and Peter Robinson. And if these names alone weren’t reason enough to make sure you don’t miss the hottest crime scene of the summer, then check out the Authors Page for details on which of the cream of the crime writing crop are so far confirmed to join them in Harrogate this July!

More names will follow in the next few weeks, so check back regularly for updates.

The event will form part of our 10th Festival celebrations, echoing the two authors now legendary appearance at the very first Harrogate festival in 2003.

The 2012 Festival takes place 19-22 July 2012 at the magnificent Old Swan Hotel, Harrogate. Programming Chair Mark Billingham has put together an astounding line-up, with Ian Rankin and Peter Robinson joining an already stellar line-up of Special Guests. Click here for more info.

Next year’s event takes place 19-22 July 2012 at the magnificent Old Swan Hotel, Harrogate. Programming Chair Mark Billingham has put together an astounding line-up, with Peter James joining a stellar line-up of Special Guests including Harlan Coben, John Connolly, Charlaine Harris and Jo Nesbo.

What better way to beat the Winter blues than by booking your place at what promises to be the hottest crime scene of the year. We are currently taking bookings for 2012 Weekend Break Packages. What’s more, book before the end of January and you will receive a complimentary copy of Jo Nesbo’s forthcoming book, Phantom, giving you plenty of time to enjoy Jo’s eagerly anticipated sequel to the No.1 bestseller The Leopard ahead of seeing him live in Harrogate next July.

Phantom will be published on 15 March 2012 by Harvill Secker in hardback and ebook. It is Jo Nesbo’s seventh internationally acclaimed novel featuring Inspector Harry Hole. Picking up several years after the events of The Leopard, Inspector Harry Hole has to uncover a conspiracy of lies and defend the innocence of someone he holds very dear.

Prices start from as little as £349 per person for double/twin accommodation and £399 per person for single accommodation.  For full information on what’s included in a Weekend Break Package, the range of hotels available and prices, please click here to visit the website.

To book, call tel: 01423 562303 or click here to email us.

We are pleased to announce that bestselling Norwegian crime writer Jo Nesbo will be appearing as a Special Guest at the 2012 Festival. Next year’s event takes place 19-22 July 2012 at the magnificent Old Swan Hotel, Harrogate. Programming Chair Mark Billingham has put together an astounding line-up, with Jo Nesbo joining a stellar line-up of Special Guests including Harlan Coben, John Connolly and Charlaine Harris.

You can book your place at the summer’s hottest crime scene now. Read on to find out about Weekend Break Packages and our special Nesbo-related gift for Christmas & New Year bookers (well, he did write The Snowman, after all!).

Weekend Break Packages

We are currently taking bookings for 2012 Weekend Break Packages. What’s more, book before the end of January and you will receive a complimentary copy of Jo Nesbo’s forthcoming book, Phantom, giving you plenty of time to enjoy Jo’s eagerly anticipated sequel to the No.1 bestseller The Leopard ahead of seeing him live in Harrogate next July.

Phantom will be published on 15 March 2012 by Harvill Secker in hardback and ebook. It is Jo Nesbo’s seventh internationally acclaimed novel featuring Inspector Harry Hole. Picking up several years after the events of The Leopard, Inspector Harry Hole has to uncover a conspiracy of lies and defend the innocence of someone he holds very dear.

Prices start from as little as £349 per person for double/twin accommodation and £399 per person for single accommodation.  For full information on what’s included in a Weekend Break Package, the range of hotels available and prices, please click here

To book, call tel: 01423 562303 or click here to email us.

We’d like to thank all the crime fans who travelled from all four corners of the UK on a wet and windy November weekend for the event. It was wonderful to see so many familiar faces from the July Festival, catch up with old friends and make some new ones! We hope all those who were there enjoyed the evening.

The Festival team would like to convey special thanks to Mark Lawson, Theakstons Old Peculier, Little, Brown Book Group, Waterstone’s and the Barcelo Majestic Hotel for helping make the event happen.

In celebration of the release of Patricia Cornwell’s latest novel Red Mist, AudioGO are offering four lucky winners the chance to win an audio version of the book. Red Mist will be available from AudioGO as an unabridged audiobook in download format from 6th December and CD format on 15th December.

The Prize

Win 1 of 4 four sets of the unabridged audio book of Patricia Cornwell’s new novel Red Mist, worth £15.25 each, courtesy of AudioGO. Each set is comprised of 12 CDs in total and Red Mist is read by Lorelei King.

How to Win

Answer the following question correctly:-

Q: What date is Patricia Cornwell’s novel ’Red Mist’ published in the UK ?

Send your answer to crime@harrogate-festival.org.uk by no later than midnight on Sunday 11th December 2011.

Terms

• Closing date for entries is Sunday 11th December 2011.
• No purchase is necessary to enter the Prize Draw.
• Entry to the Prize Draw is by email only. You’re Booked accepts no responsibility for incomplete or invalid entries.
• The four winning entries will be drawn at random. Winners will be alerted within 1 week of the closing date and will be notified by email.
• A list of the winners will be available under the competition post after this date.
• The prize is not transferable and cannot be exchanged for cash or alternative books.
• The Prize Draw is open to all UK residents aged 18 or over.
• Data submitted by entrants will only be used for the purpose of this Prize Draw.
• By entering this Prize Draw each entrant agrees to be bound by these terms and conditions.

Patricia Cornwell will be talking to BBC Radio Four’s Mark Lawson about her incredible writing career and her eagerly anticipated new novel, Red Mist. There will the chance to purchase copies of the book after the event, courtesy of Waterstone’s, and to get your copy signed by Patricia – the perfect Christmas present!

There are still some tickets available for the event this coming Saturday, but we anticipate the event may well sell out so we advise you book soon to secure your place!

An Evening with Patricia Cornwell
Saturday 26 November 2011, 7.30pm
The Ballroom, Barceló Majestic Hotel, Harrogate

Tickets £10 / Festival Friends £7.50
For full details and venue information, click here

UPDATE 22.11.2011: This event is now SOLD OUT.

The prize

‘An Evening with Patricia Cornwell’ will take place on Saturday 26 November 2011, 7.30pm at the Barcelo Majestic Hotel in Harrogate.
For full details of the event, click here.
Ticket Hotline: 01423 562303. Book Online

The Competition

Inspired by the title of Cornwell’s new book, we’re setting aspiring writers the challenge of writing a short crime story. Your story must include the words “Red” and “Mist” and be no more than 100 words.

To enter the competition, just post your finished story as a comment below this post – making sure to provide your name and a working email address – before midnight on Sunday 20 November.

The Winner

The winning entry will be the one the judges think manages to incorporate the words into the story in the most original way. The winner will be notified no later than 5pm on Monday 21 November. Please make sure you read the full competition terms and conditions below before entering.

Terms and Conditions

• Closing date is midnight on Sunday 20 November 2011.
• One winner will be notified of their prize via email no later than 5pm on Monday 21 November 2011.
• The prize is not transferable and cannot be exchanged for cash or any alternative tickets.
• The prize includes two tickets only. Travel or any additional extras are not included.
• Seating for the event is unreserved. The winner and their guest will receive priority entrance to the event, a benefit also available to Festival Friends.
• The competition is open to all UK residents aged 18 or over.

To enter, click here. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and simply post your story, name and email address in the comments box.

MC Beaton at 2011 Festival

As the dark winter evenings draw ever closer, snuggle up inside and enjoy some great new contributions online at You’re Booked, our digital community of crime readers and writers.

New for November…

• The modern day queen of crime MC Beaton shares the things about crime writing she’d like to see consigned to ‘Room 101‘.
• Our friends at publishers Hodder & Stoughton pick their favorite crime reads of 2011 (you can also find out which books made it onto the lists of the guys and girls at Transworld, Corvus, Faber, Constable & Robinson and Headline too.)
• To celebrate the international bestselling author’s upcoming appearance in Harrogate our Book of the Month is Patricia Cornwell’s Red Mist.

All of the articles are open to comment, so be sure to let us know what you think! Maybe you’ve read one of the authors or books featured? In which case let us know what you thoughts in our Reader Reviews section.