London

I've just returned from a trip to London, an enjoyable couple of days despite wet weather and a disastrous hotel choice. I met up with my agent, Oli Munson, and editor, Wayne Brookes, and was excited to learn that The Murder Wall cover has now been briefed and is in the queue waiting for its slot in the busy Pan Macmillan schedule. 

Other news. Wayne confirmed his intention to publish two novels next year, The Murder Wall in April, Settled Blood in October. And possibly two in 2013, so watch this space . . . although I did point out that Pan Mac hadn't actually bought book four yet! Cheeky, I know, but shy bairns get nowt as they say up here in the north. :)

The main reason for my visit to London - not that I really needed one - was to attend the Crime in the Court event. It was my first visit to Goldsboro Books and my chance to support independent bookshops in Independent Booksellers Week. The event was well attended and I missed a couple of people I really wanted to see but got to chat with many more authors, editors, bloggers and readers. Lucky for us the rain held off. Can't imagine how we would all have got inside! And the good news is we get to do it all over again next year.

Afterwards, I had dinner with Oli and fellow Blake Friedmann authors, Sam Hayes and Michael Ridpath, neither of whom I'd met before. Brilliant time, three brilliant people. And some of us will be meeting up again in a few weeks at the biggest crime writers' festival in the world: Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival which is held in Harrogate and runs from 21st to the 24th July. Hope you'll be there too.