RJ Ellory at Takapuna Library

The Takapuna Library has once again become crime fiction central lately. Following the packed-out event with Peter James last week, tonight 2010 Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award winner RJ Ellory is appearing over on 'the Shore'. It should be another fantastic event, run by Helen Woodhouse and her excellent team there.

Tonight's event in Takapuna is the first of five public events RJ Ellory is doing in four New Zealand cities over the next three days, in support of the recent release of his latest novel, SAINTS OF NEW YORK.

I am looking forward to meeting Ellory today - he sounds like a fascinating guy. He certainly has an interesting pre-publication history: Six years. Twenty two rejected novels. More than four hundred ‘thanks, but no thanks’ letters from over a hundred publishers. Finally, his persistence paid off when his first published novel, CANDLEMOTH, hit the shelves in 2004. This lead the way for another seven novels, including his bestseller, A QUIET BELIEF IN ANGELS, which won a number of prestigious prizes.

His tenacity to succeed could be attributed to the turmoil of his childhood. Abandoned by his father at birth, Ellory was sent to boarding school at seven years of age, after the death of his mother left him and his brother orphaned and alone. By seventeen, Ellory was experiencing life on the wrong side of the law, after he was caught poaching chickens.


See him at the following public events...

Wednesday September 8 – AUCKLAND

Takapuna Paper Plus presents RJ Ellory at Takapuna Library6pm for light refreshments, 6.30pm start
Takapuna Public Library, The Strand, Takapuna
$5.00 (Friends of the Library $2)
RSVP: email helenw@shorelibraries.govt.nz or phone Helen Woodhouse 486-8469

Thursday September 9 – NELSON & WELLINGTON
Page & Blackmore Booksellers present RJ Ellory at Nelson Library
12pm – 1pm
Activity Room, Elma Turner Library
Free
For more information: email info@pageandblackmore.co.nz or phone 03 548 9992

Meet the Author Event at Marsden Books
5.30pm
Marsden Books, 159 Karori Rd, Wellington
Free
RSVP: marsdenbooks@kauri.co.nz or 04 476 8066

Friday September 10 – DUNEDIN

RJ Ellory at Mosgiel Library
3.30pm – 4.30pm
Mosgiel Library, 7 Harstonge St
Free
Bookings: email library@dcc.govt.nz or phone 03 474 3690 (ticket collection Mosgiel Library)

RJ Ellory at Dunedin City Library
5.30pm
Level 4, Dunedin City Library, 230 Moray Place
Free
Bookings: email library@dcc.govt.nz or phone 03 474 3690 (ticket collection City Library)

For more information contact Orion Publicist Gemma Finlaygemmaf@hachette.co.nz / 09 478 1033

I will be meeting Ellory in Auckland. I'm very much looking forward to meeting Ellory in person, having heard great things about him and his books. I am about to start SAINTS OF NEW YORK, and also have a copy of THE ANNIVERSARY MAN. I'll make sure I grab him for a quick 9mm interview too, and share that with you all here on Crime Watch.

Have you read any of RJ Ellory's work? What do you think of him winning the Theakston? Are you looking forward to SAINTS OF NEW YORK? Are you going to head along to any of his events in New Zealand tour stops? Thoughts and comments welcome.