Reading groups around North Yorkshire are being invited to sign up for a Big Read as part of the UK’s largest crime fiction festival.
The Theakston’s Old Peculier Criming Writing Festival’s Big Read is back by popular demand. This year it will focus on “The Talented Mr Ripley” by Patricia Highsmith and thanks to generous support from publisher, Vintage, reading groups can take advantage of a supply of books for free.
In addition, in partnership with North Yorkshire’s libraries, the crime writer Martyn Waites will be touring libraries to hold discussions about crime writing with the reading groups and other interested individuals.
Martyn Waites was born and raised in Newcastle Upon Tyne. Before becoming a writer of hard-hitting contemporary crime fiction, he worked as a barman, market trader, stand up comic and as an actor.
County councillor Chris Metcalfe, North Yorkshire’s Executive Member for Libraries said: “The Big Read has become a major part of the crime writing festival and we are delighted that Martyn Waites will be touring our libraries to give reading groups that additional insight into the genre.”
The discussion events will take place as follows:
Mon 23 May, 2.30pm, Masham Library. Tickets £3. Tel. 0845 034 9522
Tue 24 May, 2pm, Skipton Library. Tickets £3. Tel. 0845 034 9538
Tue 24 May, 7.30pm, Ripon Library. Tickets £3. Tel. 0845 034 9524
Thu 26 May, 10.30am, Harrogate Library. Tickets £3. Tel 0845 034 9520
Thu 26 May, 2.30pm, Leyburn Library. Tickets £3. Tel. 0845 034 9505
Thu 26 May, 7.30pm, Knaresborough Library. Tickets £3. Tel. 0845 300 5112
Tue 31 May, 2.30pm, Northallerton Library. Tickets £3. Tel. 0845 034 9506
Tue 31 May, 7.30pm, Starbeck Library. Tickets £3. Tel. 0845 034 9525
Advance booking is essential. To find out more about the Big Read please visit the website www.bigread.org.uk
For information about the Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival please contact:
Harrogate International Festival
Raglan House
Raglan Street
Harrogate
North Yorkshire
HG1 1LE
Tel: 01423 562303
Fax: 01423 521264
For general enquiries E-mail: crime@harrogate-festival.org.uk
