Last weekend, in a highly nervous state, I flew to Adelaide to speak at a writers festival for garden writers, and crime writers. This was my first writers festival as an author. I’ve attended many as a reader, so it was a thrill to be sitting up the front next to some of the most amazing writers in the world. I’m not exaggerating – Hakan Nesser jetted in from Sweden, he has sold 10 million books; Aussie crime royalty Gabrielle Lord and Michael Robotham flew down from Sydney; bestseller Tony Cavanaugh, who has just finished his third dark crime novel, arrived from the Gold Coast; Ann Cleeves, a super star UK writer whose books have been turned into many television shows was on my panel, as were an array of the biggest names in gardening: Holly Kerr Forsyth and Trisha Dixon. Other famous gardeners included Toby Musgrave and Charles Elliott.
I did feel like a tadpole in a pool of exotic, flamboyant, tropical fish. I was the only first-time author. How did I have the good fortune to be included in such an illustrious line up? Luck, pure and simple. Rose Wight, one of the organisers, read my book and loved it. She could have chosen any new novelist, but she chose me! I’m so glad she did. As a result of being the only ‘unknown’ writer, people were very interested in Bay of Fires, and the bookshop sold out of my book on the second day.
There were some pinch me moments. Firstly, at the Adelaide airport, I bumped into Tony Cavanaugh at the taxi rank and we shared a cab into the city together (Mum and Dad were with me and very excited to meet a real author in a taxi! Launceston residents, prepare to hear this story again and again from Mum.) Secondly, I was introduced to Michael Robotham, author of newly released Watching You, a highly suspenseful novel that kept me guessing until the very last page. We sat down to eat our sandwiches at one of the little tables in the Botanic Gardens. He was so lovely and humble. While I was talking to him, I realised I was supposed to be joining Mum and Dad for the Gabrielle Lord author solo session. But here I was, sitting in the sunshine, drinking coffee, having a personal conversation with Michael! It does not get better than that. Thirdly, Gabrielle Lord bought my book and asked me to sign it – she is very kind! (I signed it: ‘I hope you enjoy my novel as much as I loved Death by Beauty.’ It makes me nervous to think of her reading my novel!
Me, star struck? Happily so!
Having been through the editing and publishing process, it was particularly interesting to hear the writers talk about their experiences and ideas on writing. The Adelaide Botanic Gardens is a fabulous location for a writers festival. It was busy, the tents were full, but it was still intimate and the authors mingled casually with the audience. The festival book tent, run by Matilda Bookshop, was beautiful with floral arrangements and a great range of books. There is a lovely restaurant, the Wine Centre, serving the amazing food Adelaide is known for. My family, including my sisters and their in-laws caught up for a lovely lunch. On Sunday evening after the festival my Adelaide-based girlfriend Emily and I had a few drinks at the Botanical Bar, a cool hotel nearby.
I thought the festival worked well combining the two genres, because it was fun to think of the connections between the two (Opening address was themed: Burying the Body – Compost or Crime?) It also kept the tone relatively lighthearted – sometimes at literary festivals writers get a bit carried away with the seriousness of their business. This year I’ve had the opportunity to meet a range of authors, and at times I’ve been surprised and disappointed by the unpleasantness of some successful literary fiction writers. I don’t know if this charmless-ness is arrogance or lack of social ability, but I can honestly say that the crime writers are very easy and fun to be around. Garden writers too, but you would expect that!
