Granite Noir, Aberdeen’s crime writing festival, kicks off this weekend and I’m absolutely thrilled to be part of it as one the festival’s Locals in the Limelight.

Among events featuring big name authors such as Ian Rankin, Denise Mina, Ambrose Parry, Ben Aaronovitch, and Aberdeen’s own Stuart McBride, I’ll be doing a couple of readings on the Saturday (22 Feb).

First off, I’ll be taking part in a free event at the Central Library at 11.30am, where each of the Locals in the Limelight will be performing their party piece. (Check the pic above for the full list of brilliant local authors!)

Next, I’ll be heading over to The Lemon Tree for 2pm to read at ‘Also Known As’, an author conversation featuring crime writers CM Ewan, John Lincoln, and Sarah Lotz, all of whom write under various pseudonyms. I’m a big fan of Lotz’s Mount Everest horror novel, The White Road (check my review here), so I’m stoked to be reading at this one!

As well as readings and panel discussions, there will be workshops, music, escape rooms, films, and kid friendly events happening over the weekend. I myself am keen to go see Ambrose Parry (husband and wife team, Dr Marisa Haetzman and Chris Brookmyre) at ‘Making History… Murderous’ having just finished reading their first novel, The Way of All Flesh. ‘Breaking Bones for Fun’, which will feature forensic scientist and author, Caro Ramsey, discussing realistic injuries in fiction, also sounds really interesting and probably a bit gross.

So if you fancy hearing a bit of macabre crime fiction inspired by the hits of Neil Diamond, you catch me on Saturday at:

11.30am Central Library – ‘Locals in the Limelight’ FREE

2pm The Lemon Tree – ‘Also Known As’ £9.50

See the full programme here.