Recently, I was asked by my thriller writing students about upcoming writers’ festivals for crime fiction lovers. So I thought I would briefly outline some of the festivals I will be attending in the first half of 2013:

The Perth Writers’ Festival is over for this year but I had an absolute ball. This year the festival attracted really wonderful authors from all over the world, such as China Mieville (UK), Shamini Flint (Singapore) and one of my all-time favourite authors, Margaret Atwood. I couldn’t resist getting a quick photo of us together at the Perth Concert Hall!

In two weeks’ time I’ll be at the Tasmanian Writers’ Festival and am looking forward to discussing crime fiction with Lindy Cameron.

From 5 – 7 April I’ll be at the Newcastle Writers’ Festival and am delighted to be both participating in panels and chairing them. I’ll be joined by crime fiction authors Jaye Ford, Wendy James and Caroline Overington.

On 17 and 18 June I’ll be at the Gold Coast Literati Festival. So if you live in the area and love books, then come along. You’ll have a blast!

From 30 May to 2 June I’ll be at the UK’s mega-exciting CrimeFest 2013, held in Bristol. I am so looking forward to meeting up with the wonderful Peter James, whom I met at the Sydney Writers’ Festival, and Peter Guttridge, whom I met at the Guildford Book Festival in the UK. I can’t wait to hear Jeffery Deaver and Robert Goddard speak. I’ll be doing a panel called ‘Is It Rocket Science?’ on 31 May. If you are going to this festival and you see me around, please come up and say hello.

From 12 – 14 July I’ll be at the Whitsunday Writers’ Festival – yes a book festival in paradise! I’ll be running a one day thriller writing workshop as well as joining a whole raft of authors to talk about the writing process. There’s never been a better excuse to book a long weekend holiday! I hope to see you there.