RNA Conference Lancaster University

The RNA Conference weekend is always so much fun - and so full of interesting and enlightening events. I had a fabulous time in Lancaster, meeting up with so many friends and making lots of new ones. I went 

to some great workshops, talked with fabulous writers, drank a little wine (just a little!) and hardly slept at all. Now I'm home and have caught up on the Post Conference Lag - I'm happily recalling some extra, personal moments that made me smile just to think of them.

There was the joy of watching friends and ex-students come out of their one-to-ones smiling and full of delight at having been asked to send their full manuscripts to the editors or agents they had seen. Celebrating with another ex student on the publication of her very first novel Something Like Happy. And seeing Vasiliki Scurfield win the 'Love Story in a Tweet' competition with her great story. I also enjoyed her great workshop on getting t

he details right when writing about Greek culture - lots of room for inspiration there!

Also workshops by Fiona Harper, lovely Liz Fielding and so many others. There were the long talks deep into the night on writing, life, anything and everything. I got the chance to sit back and enjoy the Convincing Crime workshop run by my DH and his co-author Stuart Gibbon the authors of ‘THE CRIME WRITER’S CASEBOOK’ and ‘BEING A DETECTIVE’ (thanks to John Jackson for the photo taken at the Gala Dinner.)

Other unexpected delights were the bargain sale of old Mills and Boon titles where I discovered a 1968 title- Still Waters - by Marguerite Lees who was a friend of my mother's and the first professional novelist I ever met - and in whose footsteps I wanted to follow. Then there was a wonderful gift from another friend and student who made the special gesture of having a fabulous tote bag made for me - with my favourite covers on it front and back. I shall use that for any other conferences I go to in the future.

Thank you so much Andrea!

All in all - a fabulous, if exhausting weekend. I'm already looking forward to next year.

Next Writing Course/Retreat Planned

I've been asked about any other courses that are coming up this year. Some details are still under discussion but there is a Relax and Write weekend in Cirencester coming up soon with Lois Maddox. Bookings are already in but there are still some available spaces on the courses if you're interested.

It's a sort of a Crime and Passion weekend - I will be running a Focus on Writing Romantic Fiction Retreat - this is a weekend where you can get a critique of your work and advice on how to progress - also the time and relaxation to get on with your writing without interruptions or demands of home.This retreat is designed for people who have already started work on a novel and who want time to focus on that - and not have to worry about anything else. It’s an ideal course to get your writing moving ahead. There are a limited number of places on this Retreat, so it is essential you book early, in order to send your work in advance for comment and arrange a one-to-one.

And the Crime bit? Well that's the other half of the writing partnership with Stephen Wade Getting Away With Murder -
Write That Crime Story

Crime writer Stephen Wade introduces the skills involved in writing crime, covering both factual and fictional genres. The course will include advice on planning, developing ideas, knowing the market, research, and characterisation. There will also be short workshop exercises.

The next 'Relax & Write' Weekend Courses are at
The Royal Agricultural University
Cirencester
6-8 April 2018
Contact Malaga Workshops

How did it get to almost-February?? I know I had my head down working on revisions but somehow Feb has snuck up on me. I surfaced to take a look at the reviews of A Proposal to Secure His Vengeance and was thrilled to find 7 - 7!! great reviews on Amazon and there's a really fabulous one over on the Mills and Boon site -

A Stunning read!!
*****
This is hugely enjoyable. A book to savour like a fine wine. An example of a highly accomplished author at the top of their game. The writing comes across the page as effortlessly readable. Assured storytelling at it's very best.

Raoul Cardini is a hero who delivers from the start, dominating the book. I highly recommend this potentially as of the finest in the Kate Walker vintage!!

Read it now!!

Thank you so much Karim Lalani  - I'm just thrilled you enjoyed Raoul's story so much.

Now I need to focus on sorting out a trip to York with the other writer in the family while I act as PA. That's the rest of the week seen to.

My DH  and his co-author  Stuart Gibbon - former senior police detective and now running The Gib Consultancy  are giving a talk  at Waterstone's in York  from 7pm

Historical crime writer Stephen Wade and former Senior Police Detective Stuart Gibbonhave teamed up to write The Crime Writer's Casebook, an essential companion for anyone interested in crime, whether historical or modern-day. It features true crime case studies and explains how crime investigation has evolved throughout the centuries. 

This is a unique opportunity to hear extracts from the book and to ask questions of two leading experts in their field.

PS If you can't make York - then there's a second talk in Waterstone's in  Harrogate on 16th February   at 18.30 pm

Ruby's Big Day - Part 2

Today is the third anniversary of the day that Ruby came to live with us. She was a little 8 week old stray, being looked after by a wonderful lady from the Cats' Protection League but the minute I walked up the drive

and towards the pens where she was staying she threw herself at the netting and demanded - loudly to be taken home As we had recently lost out beautiful Maine Coon Flora, we had a large cat shaped hole in our lives and Ruby has helped to fill that - in spite of being about one third the size of Flora.

 She was barely a quarter of the size of Charlie when she arrived, but she made sure he understood that she was the Queen around here.

She has happily posed for her homing birthday portrait - she knows she is

beautiful! And she has now chosen two winners of the Crime Writer's Casebook so I'll post the winners in a moment - but first some photos to mark Ruby's Coming Home Day.

And the winners are:

Charlotte Mcfall
and
Julie Ryan

Please contact me  at katewalker AT ntlworld.com with postal addresses to send you on your prize copies of The Crime Writer's Casebook.

Oh - and seeing as I've had several enquiries about any possible courses - I should just let you know that if you're interested Stephen Wade will be running a course in April at Cirencester University in April. There has already been plenty of interest and some bookings so it's starting to fill up.

'Relax & Write' 2018 Weekend Courses
The Royal Agricultural University
Cirencester
6-8 April 'Focus on Romantic Fiction' with Kate Walker
6-8 April 'Write that Crime Story' with Stephen Wade
6-8 April 'The Business of Writing' with Simon Whaley

For details - contact Lois Maddox at Malagaworkshops.co.uk

Ruby's big day

Ruby is busy celebrating today - it's the anniversary of her arrival here to live with us.

 But she also has a special job to do - to pick the winners of the special Writers Casebook giveaway. She's taking her time picking the treats on each piece of paper with an entry's name on it - but I'll be back when she's made up her mind!

Crime Writers' Giveaway

CRIME WRITER'S GIVEAWAY

Tomorrow is December 10th. That makes it the official publication date of the Babe Magnet's great new book from Straightforward Publishing. The Crime Writers' Casebook.

To celebrate, my DH has given me two paperback copies of this book to give away over the weekend. As Good reads have changed their policy making international giveaways much more difficult, I'm going to have to do this personally.

Written with Stuart Gibbon, former Metropolitan Police detective with 30 years experience in crime investigation. As a DCI he was in charge of murder cases and was an SIO on the East Midlands Special Operations Unit. He is now a writing consultant advising authors on police procedures.

Stephen Wade is the author of over 60 non-fiction books, many of them on crime history. His most recent works have included The Justice Women, No More Soldiering and The Girl who Lived on Air, all mainly concerned with legal issues in history. His book, Murder in Mind, was featured at the Ilkley Literature festival in 2017. Stuart and Stephen give talks to writing groups on crime past and present.

To enter, just leave a comment below - or on my Facebook page - telling me - and Steve and Stuart - the name of your favourite ever crime novel .. Giveaway open internationally; prizes posted next week; you don't have to buy anything to enter; and names

will be drawn at random.

This time, Ruby will pick the winners on Monday morning - which is a day when she will be celebrating a special something herself!

Here's a small hint about what -

Tote Bags Day

The 12th of every month is the date that I write a post for the Tote Bags 'n' Blogs  Blog. 
So that's where I have posted today . 
(well - a couple of days ago - I've only just  caught my breath to remember to come and post here to tell you about it!)

Anyway, I've written about being one of two writers in the family and how my DH - aka the Babe Magnet  is a writer of  Local History and True Crime - and the history of Crime.

So you'll find out about him on Tote Bags  - and about his new books coming out - that's Write Your Self.  

And then  The Crime Writers' Casebook with his friend  former Detective Inspector in the murder squad Stuart Gibbon.


This weekend we're off to Ilkley where the Babe Magnet if speaking on writing true crime and crime history at the  Ilkley Literature Festival.  So I'll be acting as PA   then and letting him do the speaking and greeting.