The Queen of Crime Writing is coming to Words by the Water and, I can’t wait for Friday, 18 March to enjoy New Beginnings with Val McDermid, writes Karen Morley-Chesworth.
A regular on BBC Radio 4, Val is a very witty member of a number of panel shows so I know this session at Words by the Water will be very entertaining.
And her books are classics. She has sold over 17 million books to date across the world and, has been translated into more than 40 languages.
She is perhaps best known for her Wire in the Blood series, featuring clinical psychologist Dr Tony Hill and DCI Carol Jordan, which was adapted for television starring Robson Green and Hermione Norris.
Last year on BBC1 we were treated to the TV series Traces, and there’s a second series of the ITV adaptation of Karen Pirie, based on Val’s cold case detective of the same name.
If you have come to the work of Val through TV, radio or the pages of her books, you will know how special this session at WBTW will be.
Val will be talking about 1979 – her latest book set in the winter of discontent and the first novel in a new series. I, for one, can’t wait.
Following hot on the heels of Val on the Main Stage on Friday is the poet I have grown up loving. From his days in The Scaffold singing Lily the Pink to presenting the BBC Radio 4 poetry programme Poetry Please, Roger McGough must be responsible for so many people discovering their love of poetry.
His performance poet brings words to life and started my journey passion for poetry.
Roger was one of the leading members of the Liverpool poets, a group of young poets influenced by Beat poetry and the popular music and culture of 1960s Liverpool.
I missed his previous performance at WBTW so I am looking forward to his session entitled McGough – ‘The Patron Saint of Poetry’ where he will be sharing his latest collection of work ‘Safety in Number’
- Tomorrow we will be looking at The Queen, Secrets of the Animal Kingdom and The Kremlin v Western Democracy
- To view the full programme and book your tickets for Words by the Water visit: https://www.theatrebythelake.com/festival/words-by-the-water-22/
