SWF: A story in pictures

Well, the Sydney Writers Festival has been on the past few days in Australasia's biggest city, and it's been a cracking time, with thousands of people gathering to listen to cool discussions about books and ideas of all kind. I of course have been focused on the crime and thriller fiction events, and there have been plenty to choose from. I'll be publishing some reports from various events in the coming days (I've been taking copious notes to share with y'all), but for now, here are a few pics from the past couple of days... 

Above: introducing award-winning Irish crime writer John Connolly to Man Booker Prize winner Eleanor Catton. Talent overload amongst my drinking buddies... 

Right: meeting Australian crime writer PM Newton for the first time, following the panel session "The Perfect Victim", where she discussed the relationship between crime fiction, true crime, and crime reporting in the media, and in particular whether fictional violence towards women in crime fiction had an effect on the way real-life crime is reported. Very interesting discussion, where Newton, herself a former NSW police detective, was joined by Clive James (NSW policeman turned true crime writer), journalist Michaela McGuire, and bookseller Jon Page.

Left: Eleanor Catton autographs copies of her Man Booker Prize-winning novel THE LUMINARIES following her packed session at Sydney's Recital Hall on Thursday night. Ellie had the audience alternately entranced and in stitches with her openness, self-deprecating humour and insightful comments about writing and life. It was great to get more of an insight into all the work, research, thought, and more that went into Ellie's creation of THE LUMINARIES, and the doubts, trials, and stumbling process for even the most talented writers...

Right: superstar Swedish crime writer Camilla Lackberg chatting to readers following her session "A Life of Crime". I had the pleasure of interviewing Camilla for the New Zealand Listener recently, before her visit to Australasia, and she is a fascinating person and great conversationalist/speaker, as well as a talented writer. A self-confessed "crime nerd", she had plenty to say about all manner of things crime fiction and life.



More to come. Got to dash to the John Connolly, Michael Robotham, Adrian McKinty event...