proudWORDS decided to hold its 2004 writing festival in October. But it marked the time of year when previous festivals had taken place with a preliminary event on Thursday July 8th at Newcastle City Library. Crime and fantasy writers Val McDermid, Chaz Brenchley and Manda Scott were invited to discuss their "imaginary friends" - the characters in their books.
proudWORDS organiser Mary Lowe introduced the panel, and explained that although there was a tradition of writers reading from their latest book, which the audience would then have the opportunity to purchase, all three guests this evening had chosen to read from something which was not yet published. Chaz Brenchley read the opening of Nothing Broken, one of a quartet of novellas set in Taipei, which introduces the shadowy but irresistible figure of Shei, the fixer; Manda Scott read the prologue of the forthcoming third volume of her Boudica series, Dreaming the Hound, which functions both to start the narrative for readers who have been waiting impatiently for the next installment and to introduce her heroine to anyone who may have started reading at the third volume; finally, Val McDermid read Metamorphosis a complete short story (from a collection in preparation at Flambard Press), in which the central character narrates her transformation by an unlikely love affair.
The readings were followed by questions from the audience which set the speakers debating among themselves: did they mean it literally when they spoke of characters refusing to behave as the writer intended, if character was the starting point of their stories, why were they all emphasising the importance of places in shaping the narrative, how easy was it to switch from one genre to another (and was genre fiction worth writing anyway)?
Val McDermid is an award-winning crime writer who created the Kate Brannigan and Lindsey Gordon series of detective novels. Her books featuring Tony Hill and Carol Jordan have been adapted for television in the form of Wire in the Blood. She is a regular broadcaster for BBC Radio appearing on Any Questions and Woman's Hour.
Chaz Brenchley is the well-loved author of nine thrillers and a major fantasy series, The Books of Outremer. He has won the British Fantasy award.
Manda Scott began her writing career by producing crime novels, including Hen's Teeth which was shortlisted for the Orange prize. Her recent work consists of a series of four books on Boudica the warrior queen of the Eceni. In her spare time she's a vet.
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Last update: 12th July 2004