Calling all crime-fiction aficionados – as part of National Crime Reading Month, two local authors are holding a literary evening at The Folk House on Wednesday June 18 at 8pm to celebrate this genre.
A former mental health advocate for 20 years, Claire Barnard’s debut novel, Pieces of the Jigsaw, is a crime mystery which was longlisted for the Watson Little X Indie Novella Prize 2023.
The event also sees the relaunch of Martin Williams’s first novel, The Pearl Divers Saliva, and his third book, Anthony Johnson, Committed for Murder, both stories with a crime element.
Having met at an art studio in 2000, both authors have in common personal and professional experience of mental health and this is a theme that informs and runs throughout their work.
Claire said: “It’s taken some time to get this book into print. I started writing it in 2009, finished the first draft in 2012 and wanted to get it traditionally published. I did try, but didn’t get much response from my submissions to agents and publishers. I used to be very snobby about self-publishing, but now everyone is doing it, including established authors, so I’m in good company. I’ve had a really great response from readers and I’m very pleased I’ve done it now. Getting my novel finished and published also means I can move on with other projects – at last! Next out – a collection of short stories…all with a mental health theme”.
Redland-based Martin had his first book published in 2008 and is hoping to renew interest in past work, as well as highlighting his current novel about a couple who meet in a mental hospital. Having suffered from personal mental health difficulties, Martin says he finds writing “therapeutic. Just to spend two to three hours a day getting something off my chest and on to the page”.
On the evening, Claire and Martin will read from their books, be interviewed about their writing and also take questions from the audience. To finish, they will read excerpts from new works in progress. Books will be on sale (cash only) and they will be happy to sign your copy; the books are also available on Amazon.
This will be a free event, although the bar will be open. Further information is available on clairebarnard.co.uk or by emailing info@clairebarnard.co.uk