Following the success of the one-off visit to Bristol in 2006 of the American Left Coast Crime convention, the organisers are putting on a new biennial international event called CrimeFest. CrimeFest will follow the format of US conventions, featuring interviews, panels, a Gala Dinner, and possibly one or two surprises. Our 2008 Featured Guest Authors are Karin Fossum and Ian Rankin. Find out more about the award winning Inspector Sejer series. And what's next after Rebus? Find out at CrimeFest, and check the website to see which authors are attending.

The full CrimeFest registration is £125. This includes attendance to all panels, a book bag, a programme, and a light breakfast on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Friday and Saturday tickets are £60. This includes attendance to the daytime panels, a book bag, and a programme. Tickets to the Saturday Gala or Sunday Buffet Dinners need to be purchased separately.

CRIMEFEST DINNERS

The highlight of the convention will be the Gala Dinner on Saturday evening. It will  include after-dinner speeches by all the Featured Guest Authors, as well as the announcements of the winner of the Last Laugh and Audible Sounds of Crime Awards. In charge of the ceremonies will be Toastrix Natasha Cooper.

There will be a Buffet Dinner on Sunday for those delegates who are staying on an extra night. The after-dinner speaker will be Simon Brett with a 'Crime in Rhyme'.

There are only a limited number of tickets available to the dinners, so register soon to avoid disappointment.

CRIMEFEST AWARDS

CrimeFest will be presenting two awards: the Last Laugh Award for best humorous crime novel, and the Audible Sounds of Crime Award for best crime audiobook. Registered delegates will be able to nominate the book that made them laugh loudest in 2007, as well as the nominate the book they most liked listening to in 2007. The awards will be presented at the Gala Dinner on Saturday, the 7th of June. Click here for more details.

WHY NOT MAKE CRIMEFEST A HOLIDAY?

There will be a number of trips leading up to the convention, some of which include lunches with crime novelists who write about the locations you'll visit. So, whether you are travelling from near or from far, why not make CrimeFest a week long holiday? Bristol has an international airport serviced by, among others, Continental Airlines and easyJet, and the city is easily accessible by train, bus or car. Click here.

CRIME WRITING WORKSHOP

Inspired by the Book Passage Mystery Writers Conference, CrimeFest will be organising a crime writing workshop for aspiring writers. The workshop includes a one-on-one assessment of submitted work, panels on various aspects of writing, and an intensive Sunday afternoon class. As part of the registration fee students will also be able to enter the Crime Writers' Association's prestigious Debut Dagger Writing Competition. Click here for more details.