Author: a.coates1@btinternet.com

Bernie Steadman

I’ve missed seeing Bernie Steadman at our usual get-together at CrimeFest this year so am delighted to welcome her here. Bernie is the author of The West Country Crime Mysteries (Bloodhound Books), a trilogy set in the city of Exeter and the surrounding Devon towns, coast and countryside.

Hi how lovely to see you in my virtual cocktail lounge. What can I get you at the bar?

B: It’s very nice to be invited, thank you. I’ll have a dry gin with Fevertree tonic, much ice and a slice of lime. Under no circumstance must there be vegetables in my gin. Shall I bring two?

One of my own favourites so yes please! Where did we first meet in real life?

B: We met at Bristol CrimeFest, several years ago. Actually, we met in the bar at CrimeFest I seem to remember.

Always a good place to meet! First impressions?

B:I thought you were warm and welcoming, as I knew very few people, but you gave me your time, which was kind. Now, you’re a mate. You took me along to dinner one evening, and now we have a regular “girls’ night out” on the Friday of CrimeFest where seven or eight of us go for something to eat and a good old natter.

A highlight of the weekend. Points in common?

B: We both started writing a little later than some of our contemporaries, but have refused to be judged by that paltry detail! We both lean to the left of politics, love animals, and our families, and are determined to do what we want to do, when and how we want do it.

Sounds about right. Tell me about your latest book?

B: My last published book was Death on the Coast (Bloodhound Books), the last of a trilogy of police procedural crime books set in and around the Devon coast and Exeter. It deals with issues of revenge and betrayal, and rounded off the series, at least for now!

What are you working on now?

B: My next book, The Man She Couldn’t Trust is a standalone thriller set in Crete. It was a book shouting to be written, and the research was fun, too. No cover to reveal as yet, until edits are completed, but there will be more to follow over the summer, which is exciting! It will be published by Bloodhound Books in November 2020

B: Following that I have started a slightly “cosier” crime series which will be set in Lyme Regis, near where I live, and feature two women who run an art gallery and uncover fraud and other poor behaviour amongst the local populace. Lyme is a beautiful place, and will be almost a character in the books.

I shall look forward to that, as Lyme is one of my favourite places. We’ve missed book events under lockdown so what would be your dream panel (at any event) – subject, fellow panelists or a Q&A with someone you have met or would love to meet?

B: My dream panel would be at CrimeFest, with Kevin Wignall as moderator. He’s hilarious, and I like to have a laugh to conquer the old nerves. It would be around a sense of place in novels. Kate Atkinson with her “Jackson Brodie” hat on, mainly so I can bow a lot, Stuart McBride because his Scottish characters leap off the page and beat you round the head, Jane Harper because the sense of place in “The Dry” was handled superbly, and finally, Peter May, because I have read everything he has written and you cannot beat the Lewis Trilogy for bringing the Scottish Islands to life. I’d just sit there, that would be enough.

Sounds a perfect panel. What are you most looking forward to when lockdown is finally lifted?

B: Well, I had to miss a holiday to Crete, so that could come back. It will be wonderful to see and cuddle my family again. I’ve missed them.

One thing lockdown has made you think about/want to do?

B: Write a Will. Also, to do the things I really want to do, because we genuinely have no idea what’s coming next. Don’t put stuff off, do it!

B: Well that was thirsty work. Thank you so much for inviting me to the Cocktail Lounge, mine’s a large one!

A pleasure to see you here, Bernie – cheers!

You can follow Bernie on Twitter @BernieSteadman and find out more about her and her books here

Alice Castle

Great to catch up with Alice Castle today. Before turning to crime, Alice was a feature writer on national newspapers. She writes the Death in Dulwich cozy crime series for Darkstroke/Crooked Cat as Alice Castle and psychological thrillers for HQDigital under the name A.M. Castle.

Hi Alice, how lovely to see you in my virtual cocktail lounge. What can I get you at the bar?

A: Hi Anne, thanks so much for inviting me! And great to clink glasses with you again. I’d love a Mojito, please

So where did we first meet in real life?

A: We met via Twitter, when you cleverly realised we both write murder mystery series starring female amateur sleuths, based in Dulwich and south east London! Luckily yours are based in the 1990s and mine are contemporary, otherwise we’d probably have to bump each other off.

Very true! And our first meeting was, of course, in Dulwich. First impressions?

A: It’s such a pleasure to meet someone who’s so effortlessly good at networking. It’s not one of my skills but you have it in spades. Since then we’ve been to CWA events together as well as First Monday Crime. And met for mojitos of course!

Not sure about the networking but happy you think that! Any points in common?

A: We both have a background in journalism and I’d say there is a very strong sense of place in our books.

And cats – don’t forget the cats! You’ve moved away from Dulwich in your latest book, tell me about The Perfect Widow.

A: The Perfect Widow, published by HQDigital, is a bit of a departure for me as it’s a psychological thriller about a woman with a seemingly perfect lifestyle. However, when PC Becca Holt arrives to break the news that Louise’s husband has been killed in an accident, the widow doesn’t react in the way Becca would have expected. And there are only three plates set out for dinner, as if Louise already knew Patrick wouldn’t be home that night… I love my heroine, though she’s the scariest person I’ve ever written about.

What are you working on now?

I’m writing a more traditional murder mystery, for HQDigital again. It uses one of the classic whodunit devices, the locked room, which I’ve never tried before and I’m really enjoying playing with the constraints it imposes. Plus I have a fabulous cast of twisted, dysfunctional characters who are getting up to no good at all. I’m hoping my cozy crime readers will love it as a fresh take on a genre.

I’m sure they will! Thinking about all the book events we’ve missed during lockdown, what would be your dream panel (at any event) – subject, fellow panelists or a Q&A with someone you have met or would love to meet?

A: I get very nervous about public speaking, though I’ve done a fair bit of it now. I’ve also given workshops on crime writing, which I enjoyed more. I once interviewed P D James and Ruth Rendell for a newspaper article and, although they’d be quite a daunting combination, I’d love to appear on a panel with them – they really had all the answers and I could just soak up their expertise!

Definitely be interested in that one. What are you most looking forward to when lockdown is finally lifted?

A: I really miss going to art galleries, including Dulwich’s own Picture Gallery which stars in one of my whodunits and is the most perfect space to sit and think in. It’s also wonderfully cool on a hot day. In its grounds is an ancient mulberry tree which will be coming into fruit soon so it would be great to pop along and snaffle a few of those while no one’s looking!

I won’t tell! One thing lockdown has made you think about/want to do?

A: I think lockdown has made me think a lot more seriously about climate change and our use of fossil fuels. Outside my study window I’ve seen so many more species of birds, as well as squirrels and foxes, and it’s been lovely watching children learning to ride their bikes in our quiet street. I hate the thought of going heedlessly back to pollution and traffic jams.

Indeed. Thank you so much for joining me, Alice hopefully not to long before we can meet up properly.

Find out more about Alice Castle and her books here and follow her on Twitter @AliceMCastle. She lives in south east London with two children and two cats.

David Barker

Welcome to fellow Urbane author David Barker whose debut novel, Blue Gold, was released in 2017, followed by Rose Gold, 2018and White Gold, 2019forming the Gaia trilogy. He lives in Berkshire with his wife (a picture book author) and daughter.

Hi Dave, how lovely to see you in my virtual cocktail lounge. What can I get you at the bar?

D: A Sea Breeze, please! (Vodka, cranberry juice and grapefruit juice. Very refreshing.)

The last time we met was at your launch for White Gold but can you recall where we first met in real life?

D: I can’t honestly remember, but I think it was probably at a Vanguard Reading night down in Camberwell or Peckham. They were great evenings of established and wannabe authors reading extracts from their latest works over a drink and a pizza. Great fun!

Yes we did. Then later we both read from our books there. First impressions?

D: You were very friendly. And what a fantastic smile. 😊

Any points in common?

D: Both part of the Urbane stable of authors. And we both enjoyed nights out at Vanguard Reading, of course.

Tell me about your latest book?

D: The final part of the Gaia trilogy, White Gold, was out in May 2019. It’s an exciting stand-alone adventure but also draws together several threads from the previous two books, hopefully into a satisfying conclusion.

D: Some readers/reviewers are desperate for a fourth instalment, but I’m giving the main characters a well-deserved break.

What are you working on now?

D: I’ve been working on some children’s fiction since last year but haven’t found a home for the stories yet. (Urbane Publications don’t do children’s fiction.) I’ve also been tinkering with a new darkly comic thriller. If I can get the plot and characters to work, watch this space!

We’ve all been deprived of the books events we love.  What would be your dream panel (at any event) – subject, fellow panelists or a Q&A with someone you have met or would love to meet?

D: I would love to have been on a panel with Douglas Adams. I adore his books. He was a genius about many things, so it wouldn’t matter what the discussion was about. Oh, and Gillian Anderson, just because she’s Gillian Anderson.

That’s a bit cheeky but I’ll let you off. What are you most looking forward to when lockdown is finally lifted?

D: Heading to Devon for some time near the sea and enjoying a pint of beer.

Is there anything lockdown has made you think about/want to do?

D: I dug out an old Airfix kit that’s been lurking in the loft for many years and finally started putting it together. It’s a very big and complicated model of a WWII airplane called the Mosquito. No idea what I’m going to do with it once finished!

Well good luck with that! And thank you for joining me virtually!

Follow David Barker on Twitter @BlueGold201 and find out more about his books here.

Noelle Holten

Delighted to welcome award-winning blogger and author Noelle Holten who worked as a Senior Probation Officer for 18 years before writing Dead Inside – her debut novel with One More Chapter/Harper Collins – which  introduced DC Maggie Jamieson in a series which continues with Dead Wrong.

Hi Noelle how lovely to see you in my virtual cocktail lounge. What can I get you at the bar?

N: I’d love a double rhubarb gin and tonic!

Sounds good, I’ll join you. Where did we first meet in real life?

N: We met at Morecambe & Vice Crime Festival in Sept 2019 – though we’ve be “friends” online for a few years.

It was wonderful to meet up there. What were your first impressions?

N: Adored you – adored you even more when I saw the evil eyes you gave the bar staff who tried to remove your glass of wine with one sip left! LOL Still makes me giggle!

My work is obviously done. Points in common?

N: Crime fiction; a good laugh and enjoying ourselves amongst our kind of people!

And crime festivals, of course. What would be your dream panel (at any event) – subject, fellow panelists or a Q&A with someone you have met or would love to meet?

N: I love the topic of Offender Profiling so I think having the chance to interview Prof David Wilson would be interesting. I met him at Bloody Scotland last year and had a good chat, I also saw his panel and could have listened to him all day long!

I’d come along to that. I loved Dead Inside, tell me about Dead Wrong, the second in your series.

N: In Dead Wrong DC Maggie Jamieson’s past comes back to haunt her.Three missing women running out of time… They were abducted years ago. Notorious serial killer Bill Raven admitted to killing them and was sentenced to life. The case was closed – at least DC Maggie Jamieson thought it was… But now one of them has been found, dismembered and dumped in a bin bag in town. Forensics reveal that she died just two days ago, when Raven was behind bars, so Maggie has a second killer to find. Because even if the other missing women are still alive, one thing’s for certain: they don’t have long left to live.

A reading treat in store for me. What are you working on now?

N: Dead Perfect (Book 3) is coming out October 2020 and I’m working on the final legs of Book 4 for submission. Then I will be starting to write Book 5 – which is the last in my contract. After that – who knows? If I am not offered a further contract for this series, I have an idea for a psychological thriller which I wouldn’t mind having a go at.

You’ve certainly been busy! Is there one thing lockdown has made you think about/want to do?

N: Spend more time with friends and family – get my ass out more too! I am quite an introvert but when the choice is taken away from you – and you can’t go anywhere, you really appreciate the things you could do pre-lockdown!

That resonates with me too. What are you most looking forward to when lockdown is finally lifted?

N: Meeting up with friends / crime fiction tribe for a MASSIVE G&T and some laughs! Hoping to also be able to go to Ireland for my dad’s one-year memorial mass and over to Canada to see my mom, sister and brothers.

Noelle, I do hope you can make your dad’s memorial mass and see your family soon. It was lovely to chat here and I look forward to that massive G&T in real life.

You can find out more about Noelle Holten’s books here and follow her on Twitter @nholten40

Ian Patrick

Today I’m delighted to welcome Ian Patrick who, before becoming an author, spent 27 years in the Metropolitan Police. Rubicon, his debut novel currently in development with the BBC for a six part TV series, was followed by Stoned Love and he has  just published How the Wired Weep. Ian is also an ambassador for Muscular Dystrophy Scotland where he lives dividing his time between family, writing, reading and photography. 

Hi Ian how lovely to see you in my virtual cocktail lounge. What can I get you at the bar?

I: I’m so happy to be here, thank you. I don’t drink alcohol so I’ll have a mocktail please.

So where did we first meet in real life?

I: I believe it was at a book launch in London for Louise Voss and Mark Edwards. Jane Isaac brought me her guest and it was a great evening with a room full of writers. Many I then followed on Twitter. The energy in the room was addictive. It reinforced my belief that I was on the right path with my own writing.

Well, I’ll have to dispute that, Ian. We first met at BeaconLit when Jane was one of the panelists. However what were your first impressions?

I: You were very approachable, kind, and enthusiastic about my writing. I’d just started out and you agreed to read a draft of a novel that I’d written. I think it’s important to mention how that feedback went! Needless to say it was a bitter pill to swallow but as a result of your honesty, I wrote Rubicon. Criticism is hard to take but if you can’t take it and adapt then you will never know your best self. It was a valuable lesson and one I will never forget.

I must admit when I read Rubicon, I was amazed at how much your writing had improved and if my criticism helped in some small way to achieve that, I’m delighted! Points in common?

I: I know there’s a theory about six degrees of separation and this was evident when it transpired you are friends with family on my wife’s side. You also have an excellent series set in the 90s, when I was policing, so that was an enjoyable thing for me to help with advice for the first in the series.

Not just the first book, Ian and I really appreciate how quickly you respond to a query.Tell me about your latest book.

I: How the Wired Weep follows the paths of a detective called Ed and a Covert Human Intelligence Source (informant) called Ben. This book is very much a baby of mine. It’s taken two years for me to get it right and I’m very pleased with the result. It’s a fast paced dose of urban contemporary fiction. If your readers enjoyed the TV series The Wire or have read Richard Price’s Clockers, then they will enjoy How the Wired Weep. I like to get into the minds of both the detectives and the criminal when I write, as each brings a different perspective to the table.

I’m looking forward to reading this, Ian. What are you working on now?

I: At the moment I’m spinning plates! I have two novels in development both based in Scotland. One is very much a personal based drama story and the other more speculative fiction along the lines of The Hunger Games. I’m also developing a script for a short film.

A busy time. We’re all missing book events, so what would be your dream panel (at any event) – subject, fellow panelists or a Q&A with someone you have met or would love to meet?

I: I was very close to a dream panel at Newcastle Noir this year but sadly it was cancelled. To get an invite to appear at any festival is a privilege and I was very disappointed to miss this opportunity. As a wheelchair-user, festivals that promote inclusivity are very important to me. Newcastle Noir and Bloody Scotland are two inclusive festivals. I was at Bloody Scotland in 2018 on the main stage with Val McDermid and Denis Mina. Reading from Rubicon and the memory of that event, in front of 800 people, will always stay with me.

I: I would love to be on a Q&A panel with Margaret Attwood and Chuck Palahniuk chaired by Joe Rogan. It would be great to just sit and explore the craft of writing with these people and hear their take on the world. 

That’s a panel to aspire to! What are you most looking forward to when lockdown is finally lifted?

I: This is a very interesting question because for me not a lot will change. I’ve been shielding for the entire time. I’m also listening to the science more than the government. I’m fortunate because we live in a very remote area of Scotland so live a pretty isolated lifestyle anyway but when tourism opens up again it will be interesting for me to see how things are and whether the R rate goes up.  

One thing lockdown has made you think about/want to do?

I: I’m a thinker; always have been. I like to be introspective and this period has been both a cathartic and challenging time. I have an incurable muscle condition but if you met me you’d never think I was vulnerable. I don’t consider myself so but nevertheless it wouldn’t do me any good to be laid up in bed as my muscle wouldn’t repair in the same way as most people’s.

I: It’s made me more aware of how precious life is and that we don’t have long to live a life of value. I write so people like myself who have times of struggle get a break from reality and can enter another world. I want to write more and support people in this way. Life really is what we make it and it’s very easy to lament what we don’t have rather than embrace and develop where we can and add value to others’ lives. 

I: Thank you so much for having me here and for all your support over the years. It’s very much appreciated. Ian x

Fabulous to catch up and good luck with all your projects, Ian.

You can find out more about Ian’s books here and follow him on Twitter @ipatrickauthor

Rachel Sargeant

My guest today is psychological thriller writer Rachel Sargeant, who is published by HarperCollins. Based in Gloucestershire for several years, she previously lived in Lincolnshire, Surrey, Shropshire, Nordrhein-Westfalen and Ceredigion. She likes to feature settings she knows in her writing, but gives them a twist so they are far darker than the real places.

Hi how lovely to see you in my virtual cocktail lounge, Rachel. What can I get you at the bar?

R: Thank you for inviting me, Anne. I’m going to pretend it’s a balmy evening and your cocktail lounge has moved outside. Please can I have a Pimm’s and lemonade with lots of strawberry, orange, cucumber and a sprig of mint to enjoy on this sunny patio.

Always happy to enjoy a drink in the evening sunshine. So where did we first meet in real life?

R: We met in the grand foyer of The Midland Hotel in Morecambe during last year’s Morecambe and Vice Crime Writing Festival. We admired the wonderful art-deco staircase that featured in at least one Poirot episode.

We did and what an impressive building! And a fabulous festival. First impressions?

R: I’d formed my first impressions of you the day before when I attended the panel Let Them Lead the Way. You ably moderated a panel of children’s mystery writers: Sharna Jackson, Sarah Todd Taylor and Nicki Thornton. It was a lovely panel that particularly interested me as my last job before I became a full-time author was librarian in a primary school. I had read Sharna’s novel and bought it plus books by Sarah and Nicki for the school library. It was good to hear them speak enthusiastically about their work with children. You did an excellent job of moderating. It was clear you had done a huge amount of preparation, but, like the good author you are, you didn’t let your research dominate. Perfectly demonstrating the art of show not tell, you posed well-thought-out questions and let the panellists take centre stage.

Wow thank you! Points in common?

R: I think on that occasion in the hotel foyer we talked about the rain. There was rather a lot of it that morning. Since we’ve been friends on Twitter, it’s clear that we share a love of languages as well as writing. I believe you studied French at university. I studied German and lived there with my family for several years. We took the opportunity to travel to other European countries. My daughter spent last year in Belgium and Germany, and it was wonderful to see those countries again when we visited her. Spending time with our European neighbours is an enriching experience.

Talking about university reminds me of your latest book. Tell me more.

R: The Roommates is a psychological thriller set on a fictional British university campus during freshers’ week. Four new students, each hiding a secret from their past, find themselves sharing a flat. When one of them suddenly disappears, the others must trust each other and work together to find out what has happened. Little do they realise the danger ahead.

R: Four roommates, four secrets, one devastating lie.

What are you working on now?

R: I’m putting the finishing touches to two books. One is a serial killer thriller, the first in a new police procedural series. The other is a psychological thriller set in a Then-There-Were-None-type inaccessible location. I’m also part way through the first draft of a literary project that is going to take at least two years to complete.

You obviously don’t let the grass grow… What would be your dream panel (at any event) – subject, fellow panellists or a Q&A with someone you have met or would love to meet?

R: I think I speak for all authors in 2020 when I say any panel at all would be a dream panel.

R: I was due to appear at CrimeFest to discuss: Sanctuary? When Familiar Surroundings Become Murderous. I hope it gets to take place one day as my novels tend to feature everyday settings that have taken a turn towards darkness and I was looking forward to talking about the theme.

R: I went to CrimeFest last year but not as a panellist. It was my first time at a literary festival and I’m so grateful to Chris Curran and Anja de Jager for keeping me company in the bar each evening and inviting me to join them for dinner. It would be nice to appear on the panel with these friendly writers. I know setting is important to both of them. Anja’s Lotte Meerman police detective series is set in Amsterdam, and Chris’s alter ego Abbie Frost has scored a recent hit with The Guesthouse.

What are you most looking forward to when lockdown is finally lifted?

R: When lockdown is properly over, I’ll be very pleased to go to the seaside, but I won’t go yet. I like all the fish and chip cafés, town museums and souvenir shops that go with a day out.

That’s another point in common. I love English seaside towns – and fish and chips – but like you I’ll be waiting for the right time. Thank you so much for joining me today, Rachel and I look forward to seeing you at a book event when they again become a feature in our lives.

Find out more about Rachel Sargeant’s books here and follow her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RachelSargeant3

Beverley Harvey

My guest today is Beverley Harvey who, like me, grew up on Enid Blyton.  Her career has spanned working as a receptionist, a PA, a PR, a media consultant, a copywriter and a dog walker – all roles which helped inspire her first two novels, Seeking Eden (2017) and Eden Interrupted (2019) published by Urbane Publications. Born in Yorkshire, but raised in Kent, Beverley has spent her adult life in London and the South East – until recently, when she and her partner moved to Chichester.

Hi Bev how lovely to see you in my virtual cocktail lounge. What can I get you at the bar?

B: Thank you, Anne. That’s very kind. I often love a vodka martini but as the weather’s so glorious I’ll take a chilled Sauvignon Blanc Blush, please. Will you join me?

I certainly will. So where did we first meet in real life?

B: At an Urbane drinks party in November 2016 at the Phoenix Arts Club, and happily a couple of times since then. I met so many wonderful Urbane authors that night and was completely awestruck to be surrounded by such talent.

That was a wonderful party. First impressions?

B: Big cheeky smile, deep, musical voice and lots of quite naughty laughter.  I thought: there’s a girl who knows how to enjoy herself! You were very welcoming to a then unpublished author. You and several others were so kind to me that night and it meant a great deal.

Naughty laughter? I wonder if that was a point in common?

B: There are others. In addition to both being published by Urbane and our mutual love of books, two words: South London! Before I “moved out” in 2007, I’d lived there most of my adult life. We also share a love of animals and have both been scarred by losing dogs we adored.

Yes we have but you have an adorable terrier now. I haven’t taken the plunge to adopt another canine friend. Unlike you I haven’t included a dog as a character in my books. How’s life on the book front in these strange times?

B: I’ve just celebrated the first birthday of Eden Interrupted, my second in a series that takes a wry look at family life on a prosperous, modern housing estate.

B: Plus I recently signed a two-book contract with Bookouture so I’m currently working across two psychological thrillers – editing one, whilst writing the other from scratch. It is a new experience for me, but I’m getting there. The first of these will publish in November 2020.

Congratulations. Looking forward to when we can enjoy festivals again, what would be your dream panel (at any event) – subject, fellow panelists or a Q&A with someone you have met or would love to meet?

B: I would love to be in a room with Louise Beech, Louise Candlish, Cara Hunter and Gillian Flynn to talk thrillers and the art of suspense and scaring people. I adore these authors and could learn so much from them. 

Fabulous choice. And what are you most looking forward to when lockdown is finally lifted?

B: Ah, that’s a no-brainer, Anne. Hugging my brother and sister. I haven’t seen either since early March and we’re a close family.

Hugs are so important aren’t they? I have just been able to join my daughter and her family in a “bubble” and the joy of being able to be with them is overwhelming. Is there anything lockdown has made you think about/want to do?

B: I’ve realised just how much I enjoy my partner’s company and I marvel that we never run out of things to talk about. Friends and family are everything – the rest is just set dressing and easy to suspend for a while.

That’s lovely to hear, Bev.

B: Gosh, Anne, so lovely to chat over a drink, but we made short work of those. Must be my round. Same again?

Thank you, and thank you so much for joining me in the Cocktail Lounge.

You can find out more about Beverley Harvey here and follow her on Twitter @BevHarvey_

Lesley Lodge

Today my guest is Lesley Lodge, prize-winning short story writer and author of Lights, Camera, Gallop which combines her love of film and horses. Her first crime book, Wayland’s Revenge, is a historical novel set during the Siege of Colchester.

Lesley, welcome to my virtual cocktail lounge. What can I get you at the bar?

L: Let me think… I’ll have a Dark and Stormy please. Cheers!

So where did we first meet in real life?

L: In real life we met in the 1990s in East Dulwich, South London – so in both the time and the place of your Hannah Weybridge novels. I hope I haven’t inspired you in any criminal way…

That would be telling. What were your first impressions?

L: I thought what a welcoming person! I watched you take command of a meeting and realised you were someone who could judge characters well. I was soon to catch on to your creative side too.

We’ve known each other a long time so we must have quite a lot in common?

L: We had kids of the same age and journalism. I’d been a journalist for a Middle Eastern business magazine and at that time was cracking out articles on, well, housing regeneration. Actually, there is a very real connection between poor housing, Peckham and gangs. You were freelancing for all kinds of magazines and publications. We both had ambitions to write THE great novel, if only the kids would settle quietly…

What are you most looking forward to when lockdown is finally lifted?

L: Well what I’ve missed most so far, in the writing world, is the Harrogate Crime Writing Festival. Hopefully it will be revived in 2021.

I think you’ve been to Harrogate every year. I’ve never got there but we did both make it to CrimesFest which was fun. What would be your dream panel (at any event) – subject, fellow panelists or a Q&A with someone you have met or would love to meet?

L: I’d love to get Don Winslow, Stephen King and Val McDermid together on a panel. They’re all fabulously enthralling writers – and they’ve all been clear [if I may be just a tiny bit political here] about the leaders who’ve not led us well on Coronavirus on either side of the Atlantic.

Oh be as political as you like and have another drink as you tell us about your latest book.

L: So Wayland’s Revenge is set in 1648, a time of bitter civil wars in England. Wayland, the village blacksmith, returns from army service to find his wife, Rebecca, murdered and his son traumatised. Wayland’s overpowering desire for revenge is thwarted by the collapse of laws and a dearth of clues to her sadistic killer.  Wayland sets out on a perilous journey to find the killer, taking with him his son Jonathan and Alun, a canny Welsh baker. But just as they find their first suspect, they are trapped in the brutal Siege of Colchester, facing ever more dangerous challenges. Wayland, Alun and Jonathan must draw on all their strengths, devise new strategies and make agonising decisions, if they are to stay alive and find the real killer before he strikes again. It’s out in paperback, kindle and audiobook.

I don’t read many historicals but I must say I was totally gripped by Wayland’s Revenge. What are you working on now?

L: My longer-term project is to write a sequel for Wayland’s Revenge. I think this one will be set in the dark, dank Fens in the seventeenth century.  Wayland might just get caught up as slave labour for Cromwell’s project to drain the fen. But in the meantime, I’m working on a memoir about my misadventures in the 1970s. I have a 320 page first draft of that so far.

Well editing that will keep you busy during lockdown! Is there anything this time of pandemic has made you think about or want to do?

L: Run outside waving my arms manically… And head for a train to London.

And I’ll be there to meet you for a real drink. Lesley, thank you for joining me today and please get on with the sequel to Wayland’s Revenge.

You can find out more about Lesley Lodge and her work hereand follow her on Twitter @LesleyLodge

Vicki Goldman

It’s a delight to welcome writer and journalist Vicki Goldman to the Cocktail Lounge. Last year the opening chapters of her Jewish-themed crime novel, The Redeemer, won her the accolade of first runner up in the Capital Crime New Voices Award.

Hi Vicky, how lovely to see you in my virtual cocktail lounge. What can I get you at the bar?

V: Hi Anne. Thank you so much for inviting me – it’s much more spacious than I expected. Many people who follow me on Twitter (or know me in the “real world”) will be aware that I am particularly partial to a shot (or two or three…) of Thunder Toffee Vodka. But I am currently staring into my sunny garden and realise that I fancy something more refreshing, such as a Pimms and Lemonade (with fruit and ice, of course). If your bar stocks are running low (because I know many people have been drinking more alcohol than usual during lockdown), my other usual drink is a vodka and orange.

Knowing you’d be here, I stocked up on Thunder Toffee Vodka! So where did we first meet in real life?

V: We first met at First Monday Crime, which takes place in London on the first Monday of each month with great author panels and socialising in the pub afterwards. I was possibly lurking in a corner somewhere and you possibly dragged me into a conversation to share our love of crime fiction!

First impressions?

V: You put me at ease straightaway. Since then we have had great chats at more First Monday events and also at book launches and festivals. It is always lovely to see you.

Funny isn’t it, I thought you were quite intimidating – not realising you are shy. Points in common?

V: We seem to have quite a lot in common, as we are both journalists and also love crime fiction (although you are published and I’m not there yet!). We often share a laugh on Twitter at some of the ridiculous press releases that arrive in our inboxes.

And we both had non-fiction books published by the same company. What are you working on now?

V: By day, I work as a journalist and editor, specialising in consumer health, writing for various magazines. I am also freelance health editor for Bupa, updating the consumer health information on the website. Around 18 months ago, my day job and the book world collided when I decided to use my skills and experience elsewhere. I now proofread fiction for Orenda books and I have edited memoir for Mirror Books – a welcome break from some of the heavy health writing topics.

V: I review books for LoveReading and I am writing crime fiction too. I was first runner up in the Capital Crime New Voices Award 2019 with the first chapters of my Jewish-themed crime novel, The Redeemer. I am currently writing something that is crime but also a little spooky, which is a set in a former prison. I am not that far in, but several people are giving me a kick (I mean, push) to get it written.

Love the idea of your WIP so get on with it! Sadly we have no “real life” book events at the moment but what would be your dream panel?

V: This is a hard one for me to answer as I have never been on a panel. But if I was on a panel right now, it would likely be as a moderator, which terrifies me a little (okay, far more than a little).

V: Thinking back to the First Monday events I have been to, I think a panel featuring Susi (SJI) Holliday, Steph Broadribb, Rod Reynolds and Chris Whitaker would be great fun and I would learn a lot as they are all talented writers. They would certainly put me at ease, though I am not sure that I would be able to control the direction (or content) of conversation at all!

Having been on two panels with Rod, I think you’re on to a winner there. What are you most looking forward to when lockdown is finally lifted?

V: Probably some “me” time (writing in solitude at home, wandering aimlessly around a bookshop or even just sitting in a park). I also can’t wait to meet up with some friends who don’t live nearby – this would usually be in central London (eg the Waterstones Piccadilly 5th floor bar), but sadly I can’t see that happening for a long while.

Is there anything lockdown has made you think about/want to do?

V: I really appreciate what I do have here – my family (husband and two teenage sons) and some work to keep me busy (although I am always looking for more). I know others aren’t so fortunate. I also appreciate the support of my closest friends, who make me laugh when I’m feeling down or anxious and listen when I need to chat.

Well it was great to chat with you today, Vicki, and good luck with your WIP.

You can find out more about Vicky’s Editorial services here and follow her on Twitter: @VictoriaGoldma2

Paul Gitsham

My guest today, Paul Gitsham, a biologist who retrained as a science teacher, is the author of the DCI Warren Jones crime books, which began with The Last Straw in 2014. The latest in the series, A Price to Pay is released on 5 June by HQ Digital.

Hi Paul how lovely to see you in my virtual cocktail lounge. What can I get you at the bar?

P: Well, if you’re buying… I will have a bottle of Nanny State and a glass of lemonade, plus an empty pint glass. Yep, you read that right, an alcohol-free shandy. I know how to party!

So do you remember where we first met in real life?

P: Tricky. We’re both stalwarts of First Monday Crime, but I suspect we were brushing shoulders before then at CrimeFest.

First impressions? I was in awe of you as you seemed so confident.

P: I’m flattered. The only time anyone has said they were in awe of me in recent times was after I downed a glass of fizzy water, mixed with tabasco sauce, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice and whatever the hell else year 8 had added to the beaker. I did it in 8.2 seconds and held that record for most of a lunch-time, until an especially iron-stomached year 9 beat me by less than a second. In my defense, it was for charity.

P: As to my first impressions – like most writers I am constantly suffering from imposter syndrome, I recognised you and was delighted when you spoke to me. As always with the crime community, I found you to be a fun conversationalist and enjoyed chatting to you. You are one of the familiar faces I always keep an eye out for when entering a room for the first time.

What a lovely thing to say. Points in common apart from a geographical connection to Harlow, Essex where I lived and went to school.

P: Well our time in Harlow hasn’t really overlapped, as I have only been here a couple of years. However, as I mentioned before, we both really enjoy First Monday Crime in London.

P: I know it’s a cliché, but that love of books from an early age is something that we have in common. I know that you were inspired to read by a teacher, who allowed you access to his office to choose books. As a child in primary school, I was a little slow to start reading, but when I did, I soon polished off everything the school had to offer. I too felt incredibly special when the teachers gave me a special dispensation to bring in my own books to read.

Thinking about book events, what would be your dream panel (at any event) – subject, fellow panelists or a Q&A with someone you have met or would love to meet?

P: So many to choose from! I think if I were to sit down and spend time with another author, it would be David Baldacci. I am really in awe of him. The way he juggles so many different series and consistently produces a couple of good page-turners a year is inspiring. I’ve never seen him speak publicly, so a Q&A with him would be fantastic. David, if you’re reading this…

Fingers crossed! So what are you working on now?

P: I am currently in the throes of next year’s DCI Warren Jones. It’ll be the seventh full-length and the eleventh in the series. No title as yet, but my internet history for the past weeks includes how long after death biometrics continue to work and how one goes about leasing an allotment – so make what you will of that. It should be published by the HQ imprint of HarperCollins in June 2021.

But your latest book is just about to be published?

P: Yes, 5 June sees the release of the sixth full-length DCI Warren Jones, A Price to Pay. As the tenth entry in the series, it feels pretty special. It’s just a shame I won’t get a chance to talk about it at CrimeFest or show anyone the lovely new bookmarks I’ve had printed!

P: In this book, I decided to focus on the world of undocumented workers. After a brutal murder the investigation has lots of twists and turns and a pretty devastating conclusion. For long time readers of the series, it continues to deal with the fallout of previous novels.

What are you most looking forward to when lockdown is finally lifted?

P: I haven’t seen my family for months. We have been having regular video-conferences on a Sunday, and I phone my parents for a good chat a couple of times a week, but it isn’t the same. My two toddler nephews are a little too young to understand quite how Skype works and generally run around yelling rather than sitting in front of the camera, so I am looking forward to having them on my knee again.

Is there anything lockdown has made you think about/want to do?

P: To go out without a teatowel wrapped around my face. We torture ourselves by planning what we are going to eat when we finally get to go for a meal. The biggest disappointment is the need to postpone our wedding and honeymoon. When it finally takes place, it is going to be the party of a lifetime!

Thank you for joining me in my virtual Cocktail Lounge, Paul. I’m looking forward to meeting up the next time there’s a real event – you never know it might be the CWA Christmas party!

You can find out my about Paul Gitsham’s books on his website and follow him on Twitter @DCIJoneswriter