Sunday, July 20, 2014

J K Rowling tells Harrogate: 'more than seven' Galbraiths


Novelist J K Rowling has confirmed she plans "not seven, more" Robert Galbraith novels.

Speaking at the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival in Harrogate yesterday evening (Friday 18th July), in conversation with Val McDermid, the author drew applause from the audience when she confirmed there was an "open-ended" series planned. "I love writing these books. One of the things I love about this genre is that - unlike Harry [the Harry Potter series] where there is an overarching story, here you are talking about discrete stories. So as long as your detective lives you can give him cases."
She added that she knew "a lot" about her private eye Cormoran Strike and where he was going, as well as his assistant Robin.

The Harrogate event is J K Rowling's one and only UK event to promote her new Cormoran Strike novel, The Silkworm (Little, Brown), and in keeping with her Robert Galbraith pseudonymn, Rowling wore a suit and tie to play the part. Her appearance was carefully controlled, with no photographs allowed in the auditorium, and questions from the audience vetted in advance and delivered via McDermid, with whom Rowling shares a publisher.

The author said it was a "no brainer" for her to write crime novels, describing the Harry Potter novels as "six whodunits and one whydunit" - and admitting her "dirty secret" - that she never reads fantasy. 

She revealed a love for "golden age" crime - Margery Allingham, Ngaio Marsh, Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers, although not Sayers' detective Lord Peter Wimsey - as well as her admiration for Val McDermid herself, Mark Billingham, Ruth Rendell and P D James.
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Footnote:
The Bookman was delighted to read this story. I am a huge fan of the Robert Galbraith crime novels and his private eye Cormoran Strike..

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