My Crimefest 2017 experience plus giveaway

This morning I am officially wrecked after an amazing weekend in Bristol for Crimefest 2017 😴 Last year I went to Crimefest for the first time just for the Saturday which was amazing but also very full on as felt like I needed to attend every single session.  But it also whetted my appetite for me wanting to experience the whole convention so as soon as the tickets went on sale I booked to return again this year but for the whole weekend, Thursday to Sunday.  And what a weekend it was 😉

Thursday

Day 1 lulled us into a false sense of security as didn't start until after lunch giving us delegates time to arrive and prepare for the weekend ahead.  I had already decided which panels I wanted to go to in advance and wasn't disappointed as each of the ones I chose was informative and entertaining.

• Debut Authors: An infusion of fresh blood with Steph Broadribb, David Coubrough, Mary Torjussen & Lucy V. Hay - moderated by Karen Robinson

• SHHHHHHH! Keeping Secrets and Telling Lies with Andrea Carter, Julia Crouch, Lucy Dawson, Rod Reynolds - moderated by Valentina 'VM' Giambanco

• What are you hiding? The Dark Side of Human Nature with Johana Gustawsson, Jørn Lier Horst, Doug Johnstone, Luke McCallin - moderated by Michael Stanley

Friday

After a reasonably early night and the memory of last year's experience I knew that it was virtually impossible to attend every panel of the day as physically, and mentally, you need a break if you're going to survive the day!

• Partners in Crime: Male/Female Police Duos with Sarah Hilary, Anne Randall, Stav Sherez, Luca Veste - moderated by Sarah Ward

• Behind Closed Doors: When Domestic becomes Noir with Jane Corry, Lisa Hall, Michael J. Malone, Mary Torjussen - moderated by Julia Crouch

As it was a gorgeous sunny day I decided to pop out for lunch and enjoyed a sandwich outside before coming back for the afternoon sessions 😊

My Favourite Book is... by Laura Ayling, Ana & Kate Moloney

Laura Ayling from Lozza's Book Corner

My Favourite Book Is.... wow what a question.

In all honestly I don't think I could pin point one.

One of my favourites from my child hood is a book called "Each Peach Pear Plum", every page has a rhyme on it and you have to find people such as Tom thumb, Cinderella & baby Bunting. My two young neices now love love this book so it's a special time when we read it together.

Adult wise... hmm, there's far too many from JoJo Moyes' Me Before You, any of Jill Mansell's and most recently My Sisters Secret by Tracy Buchanan.

But one I will read again and again is Where Rainbows End by Cecelia Ahern - I love the uniqueness of it being written completely via email/letter and text!

Ana from This Chick Reads

For a book blogger and a person who reads +100 books a year, one would say I’ll have a problem in making up my mind when it comes to choosing my favourite book of all time. Despite the fact I’ve read many good books throughout the years, there’s one book that stands high on the pedestal. That book is ‘The Girl on the Cliff’ by Lucinda Riley.

Those of you who’ve had the chance to read any of Lucinda Riley’s books will now say ‘Ahhh, of course! I totally understand why she picked this book’, but for those of you who haven’t had the opportunity to read any of Lucinda’s works I shall try and briefly explain why I love it so much.

I bought it while on holidays in Greece, hoping for a light hearted family mystery, but what I got was a beautiful, mesmerizing, complex story entwining different generations and plots, a story that made me cry like a baby once I finished it. I don’t remember if I got up from the sofa at all, I read it cover to cover in one single sitting.