For sure it’s a first world problem but boy have we been busy lately. We were the official podcast for the first live Gwyl Crime Cymru Festival in Aberystwyth in March and followed that with a stint as podcast partner for CrimeFest in Bristol in May. This month we worked with the Crime Writers Association on a series of special shows in honour of the CWA Dagger Awards – the premier crime writing awards in the UK. We made four shows, three showcasing the shortlisted authors for a trio of the major prizes.
The Gold Dagger episode featured Winner George Dawes Green and Anna Mazzola, William Ryan, Simon Van der Velde, Simon Mason and, new CWA chair, Vaseem Khan. The Ian Fleming Steel Dagger episode saw Victoria Selman #OnTheSofa with Linwood Barclay, John Brownlow, the winner, and Ava Glass, (the other authors were MW Craven, Robert Galbraith and Alan Parks). The third episode features the John Creasey (New Blood) Dagger, the best upcoming writers. We also included the announcement of all the winners in 30 mins of coverage from the Gala night ceremony. The piste de resistance, if I do say so myself, was an In Person chat with Diamond Dagger winner and crime writing legend Walter Mosley.
It was a privilege to be involved with the Dagger Awards and doubly so for Victoria who hosted the night with Imran Mahmood. Who knows, maybe we’ll be back there next year.
Of course that hasn’t stopped us getting on with business as usual at chez Crime Time FM. Recent interviews include MW Craven on Fearless and his challenger to Reacher, Ben Koenig, Sheila Bugler about dark deeds at Black Valley Farm, Clémence Michallon on her portrayal of three women in the life of a serial killer, The Quiet Tenant, and it was a joy to chat to Dreda Say Mitchell OBE and her partner Ryan Carter about Believe Me. Coming soon – James Naughtie with Shane Whalley (Spybrary), DV Bishop, 2023 Historical Dagger winner, and the great film critic, David Thomson.
#OnTheSofa just finished it’s fourth season with episodes featuring Critics Jonathan Whitelaw, Phoebe Morgan and Paul Burke, Missing Persons with Heather Critchlow and Tim Weaver and the finale saw Belinda Bauer and Clare Mackintosh discussing what it’s like being a published writer. Season five will be a blend of upcomers and the top writers we all want to hear from, Victoria is slotting topics into place as you read.
We are also currently planning the Great Christmas Crime Time Debate 2023. Were going to go a bit earlier this year. Doing the show in November means the recommendations will be available in time for you to do a raid on your local shop for presents. We’re thinking of going live too – negotiations are in full flow with a popular London bookstore. Last year’s podcast was one of our most popular of the year and Barry Forshaw, Laura Wilson, Maxim Jakubowski, Ayo Onatade, Jake Kerridge, Victoria Selman and Paul Burke will all be back with their top choices for the year.
If you’re a devotee, thank you, if you’ve yet to check out the podcast why not give us a whirl at Crime Time FM https://www.buzzsprout.com/1686667
