SUNDAY INDEPENDENT BOOK FESTIVAL

5–6 September 2008, Trinity College, Dublin

Crime Writing panels:

Date: Friday 5th September
Time: 19:30
Venue: County Hall, Marine Road, Dun Laoghaire
Author: Declan Hughes, Gene Kerrigan, Tana French, Alex Barclay, and Ruth Dudley Edwards with Moderator Paul Johnston

Heroes and Villains: What We Love and Hate about Crime Fiction

From Hannibal Lecter and Tom Ripley to Philip Marlowe and Charlie Parker, crime fiction offers a bewildering array of villainous heroes, tarnished knights and unimpeachable good guys and gals. But is crime fiction today a radical interpretation of ancient myths, or a predictable and conservative form of escapism from reality? Or is it just good, dirty fun? Our terrific crime writing series kicks off with this compelling discussion of the essential nature of the genre.

Date: Saturday 6th September
Time: 11:00
Venue: County Hall, Marine Road, Dun Laoghaire
Author: Gene Kerrigan, Ruth Dudley Edwards, Brian McGilloway, Arlene Hunt, and Declan Burke with Moderator Mick Halpin.

Forty Shades of Grey: Real Fiction, Real Ireland

Journalism is the first draft of history. Is crime fiction its second draft? Is it social realism or just another form of myth-making that fosters the illusion of authenticity? This panel explores the extent to which crime fiction gives a writer a licence to investigate the often unpalatable truths of the way we live today.

Date: Saturday 6th September
Time: 14:00
Venue: County Hall, Marine Road, Dun Laoghaire
Author: Meet the Author:  John Connolly In Conversation with Declan Hughes

Meet the Author: John Connolly In Conversation with Declan Hughes

John Connolly is one of the most successful Irish crime writers. Since his first Charlie Parker novel, Every Dead Thing, published in 1991, John has gone on to write another eight novels, most recently, The Reapers (2008). The audience for this event will have a rare opportunity to hear him read from work-in-progress. The Lovers, will be published in 2009. Afterwards, John will be interviewed by fellow crime writer Declan Hughes.

Date: Saturday 6th September
Time: 16:00
Venue: County Hall, Marine Road, Dun Laoghaire
Author: John Connolly, Alex Barclay, Declan Burke, Arlene Hunt, and Brian McGilloway with Moderator Declan Hughes

Sex & Violence: How Far is Too Far?

If crime fiction is to be credible, it needs to accommodate sex and violence. But where lies the fine line between gritty realism and gratuitous pandering? Is violence the new sex or the new pornography? And is it possible to write credible crime fiction without graphically depicting sex and violence? Everything you ever wanted to know about sex and violence in crime fiction, but might have been afraid to ask.