SHOTSMAG CONFIDENTIAL

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• Pandora's Box by Erin Kinsley
• Creating Characters by Karen Hamilton
• Bloody Scotland 2021 Programme Revealed!

Pandora's Box by Erin Kinsley Posted: 18 Aug 2021 10:30 PM PDT  Imagine you've found the perfect gift for someone you love.  As you wrap it in well-chosen paper, tie round a ribbon and write your message on the card, you're full of anticipation of their pleasure when it's opened. And as you hoped, they're delighted with your choice, thanking you with warm smiles and a hug.  Except that weeks later, your gift derails their whole life. An unintended gift of a poisoned chalice is at the heart of my third emotional thriller, Missing, when a young woman on uneasy terms with her sister buys her a present potentially spring-loaded with more misfortunes than Pandora's box.  Like most crime writers, I'm intrigued by every kind of mystery, from the true identity of Jack the Ripper to the unsolved disappearance of Claudia Lawrence. And that love of mysteries makes me unapologetically a fan of Long Lost Family, a TV programme popular on both sides of the Atlantic, whose speciality is re-uniting mothers with children they were forced to give up for adoption decades ago, and siblings separated at birth. Participants often contact the programme after years of fruitless searching, and are frequently overwhelmed to find themselves in emotional meetings before the closing credits roll.  But how does Long Lost Family so often succeed in tracking people down where its hugely invested and committed participants have previously failed? Simply because it solves these 'cold cases' using a very contemporary tool: a home-test DNA kit. DNA testing has come a long way in the thirty years since it was first used in the UK to secure a conviction in a court of law. The case was the killing of Dawn Ashworth by Colin Pitchfork, a baker from Leicestershire. Ultimately, Pitchfork was convicted of two murders, described by the judge at his trial as 'particularly sadistic', and his release from prison this summer (2021) is the cause of some controversy. Sentenced today rather than under 1980s law, his crimes would have attracted a whole-life tariff. From that point forward, DNA testing began to take a central role in crime detection, and also became more commonplace in the area of family law, to establish paternity. Before long, genealogy sites like Ancestry.com took the short step to packaging DIY kits aimed at the burgeoning numbers of people researching their personal history and family trees.  Sounds like a cool and unique gift, wouldn't you say? A simple test and an eight-week wait could save you years of trawling through census records online, or scouring the ledgers of ancient parish records in cold and draughty churches to trace your elusive ancestors.  What could possibly go wrong? Well, for some people – including the sisters in Missing – a DNA test reveals shocking information, opening cans of worms that can't be resealed and undermining carefully curated family secrets.  Of course, those digging for their roots have always run the risk of uncovering potentially uncomfortable truths - the date of a marriage only days before a birth (or no record of any marriage at all), a death from syphilis or addiction, maybe a dishonourable mention in a newspaper report of court proceedings – but whatever was hidden was usually far back in the past. But an unexpected DNA test result impinges on people still very much alive, and for some they throw up deeply troubling insights, proving that at a molecular level, they're not the person they thought they were.  What happens when it turns out your uncle is your father, your mother isn't your mother or your brother shares no blood with you at all? Those on the receiving end of unexpected results are bewildered and confused. Often, they want answers to new questions they may never get, especially if those with knowledge are already dead. Then, whether they like it or not, they've inherited the family secret, and must make the decision whether to share it, or keep it to themselves as it's been kept from them.  The knowledge those kits offer is intriguing and enticing, but just like Pandora's box, it might be better not to lift the lid.  There is such a thing as too much information, and sometimes, ignorance is bliss.  Missing by Erin Kinsley (Headline) Out Now A mother walks into the sea... and never comes back. Why? One perfect summer day, mother of two Alice walks into the sea . . . and never comes back. Her daughters - loyal but fragile Lily, and headstrong, long-absent Marietta - are forcibly reunited by her disappearance. Meanwhile, with retirement looming, DI Fox investigates cold cases long since forgotten. And there's one obsession he won't let go: a tragic death twenty years before. Can Lily and Marietta uncover what happened to their mother? Will Fox solve a mystery that has haunted him for decades? As their stories unexpectedly collide, long-buried secrets will change their lives in unimaginable ways.

Creating Characters by Karen Hamilton Posted: 18 Aug 2021 10:00 PM PDT The initial idea for my books starts with the hint of a character who gradually develops, both consciously and subconsciously. I try to create protagonists who are very morally complex. They make poor decisions and then continue to justify their questionable behaviour via their internal thoughts as they attempt to justify their actions. They all pass a point where it becomes easier for them to continue along a certain path rather than to back down and admit they may have made a mistake. I personally love writing in the first person. I like the immediacy of working through my characters' warped thought processes; it's worryingly good fun. For every book, I go to 'therapy' in character. (A service called Characters on the Couch). I find the insight gained into the backgrounds I have created for each character an invaluable tool of reference whilst building their worlds and figuring out how they would authentically react in various scenarios.  The character spark for my first novel, The Perfect Girlfriend, came about when I was working as cabin crew. I was changing out of uniform one day at Heathrow before travelling home on public transport. Whilst doing so, I experienced this strong sense of returning to anonymity as I changed into my jeans and t-shirt and it made me think about our work personas. With the protagonist, Juliette, I wanted to create someone who wasn't merely hiding her true self at work, she was doing so in all areas of her life. My second novel, The Last Wife, tells the story of Marie, a troubled and envious woman, prone to lying, who takes over the life of her dead best friend, Nina, only to discover that she didn't know her friend quite as well as she thought. The character spark came about when I was setting up a book group in my local village. While researching the type of books commonly read at book clubs, I was very surprised to stumble across online stories of book groups which didn't seem as friendly or inclusive. It got me thinking about Marie's character, how she could try and shoehorn herself into Nina's old life, by joining the village book group Nina had created and taking over the running of it.  My third novel, The Ex-Husband, is about Charlotte, a former con artist who finds the roles are reversed when a former victim seeks revenge. The character spark was something quite different: towel art. My husband used to work away on ships and on one trip, one of the housekeeper's was fantastic at creating unique towel art. My husband would send me photos and this made me think (not sure what this says about me or my mind) what if, instead of the towel art being a welcome sight on your bed each night, what if it was something sinister? Something which made a character fearful and if so, why such a thing would happen. In The Ex-Husband, whilst Charlotte is trapped onboard a superyacht in the middle of the Caribbean Sea, she finds towel art shaped into a skull with dark seashells for eyes and teeth on her cabin bed. In my fourth, as yet untitled novel, the protagonist, Florence, is struggling with identity and her true place in the world. The spark for this idea loosely came about not long after someone close to me received a dementia diagnosis. It brought about a strong desire in me to look back on my own childhood and maybe consider the impact living in different countries had on my love of travel and writing.  I'm sometimes asked if any of my characters are based on real people and although the answer is no, life experiences of my own naturally do creep in. Juliette in The Perfect Girlfriend is a flight attendant. The Last Wife is set in New Forest, an area I know well. I loved the idea of the vast, stunning forest as a setting. Marie is a photographer and I spent time with a local photographer, learning the basics. The Ex-Husband was written during lockdown, so I'm sure it was definitely wishful thinking to set the book in the Caribbean! The research I did into scams and con artists was another fascinating world to explore. One theme I recently noticed is that all my female protagonists' names end in 'e.' Juliette, Marie, Charlotte and Florence. It wasn't done consciously but I quite like that this link occurred, despite the books all being stand-alones.  The Ex-Husband by Karen Hamilton (Wildfire, £16.99) Out Now Charlotte and Sam were partners. In life, and in crime. They never stole from anyone who couldn't afford it. Wealthy clients, luxury cruise ships. It was easy money, and harmless. At least, that's what Charlotte told herself, until the world caved in on her. But now, years after she tried to put that past life behind her, it comes rushing back when her estranged ex-husband Sam suddenly goes missing - and someone threatens to expose what they did. Desperate to escape whoever is tormenting her, Charlotte takes a job as events planner for an engagement party onboard a superyacht in the Caribbean. For a while, her plan seems to have worked, nothing but open ocean and clear skies ahead. Until it becomes clear that she's no longer a thousand miles away from harm. Because whoever is behind it all is onboard too. And now there's nowhere left to run. More information about Karen Hamilton and her books can be found on her website.  You can also find her on Twitter @kJHAuthor

Bloody Scotland 2021 Programme Revealed! Posted: 18 Aug 2021 12:40 PM PDT BLOODY SCOTLAND REVEALS THE LINE UP FOR HYBRID FESTIVAL 17-19 SEPTEMBER 2021    Bloody Scotland is absolutely delighted to reveal its most ambitious programme yet. A hybrid festival which gives festival goers in Stirling the full-on festival experience while allowing authors and readers who can't be there in person the opportunity to join in the fun on our website: www.bloodyscotland.com The 2021 Festival will feature huge names including Stephen King, Kathy Reichs, Karin Slaughter, Lee Child, Jeanine Cummins, Linwood Barclay and Robert Peston beamed into the Albert Halls where live interviewers will question them in front of a live and digital audience. Meanwhile pacing the boards in Stirling itself will be the great and the good of the Scottish crime scene including Val Mcdermid, Ian Rankin, Denise Mina, Chris Brookmyre, Marisa Haetzman, Lin Anderson, Abir Mukherjee, Craig Robertson, Alan Parks, Morgan Cry, Russell and Stuart McBride. Plus some big names from outside Scotland: Paula Hawkins, Luca Veste, Mark Billingham, Mick Herron, S J Watson, Lisa Jewell, Stuart Neville, Kia Abdullah, E S Thomson and Louise Candlish. Bloody Scotland has long been praised for going beyond the usual remit of a literary festival and this year is no different with old favourites Pitch Perfect and Crime in the Spotlight, a performance by the Fun Lovin' Crime Writers and a cabaret twist on the normal Quiz which will see each quizzer (Val McDermid, Chris Brookmyre, Doug Johnston, Mark Billingham, Luca Veste and Stuart Neville) performing a musical number. Up the road at The Golden Lion panels will be recorded in front of a live audience and broadcast 24 hours later. Hosts of The Red Hot Chilli Writers, Vaseem Khan and Abir Mukherjee will be on stage with a live version of their popular crime podcast. There is a discount for local residents and we continue to improve disabled access with a taxi between venues for those that need it. Following last year's digital first with The Never-Ending panel featuring 27 Scottish writers from home and abroad, this year's marathon digital only event will be an A-Z of Crime starting with Megan Abbott and concluding with Anne Zouroudi hosted by the crime writers on the Bloody Scotland board. The global element continues with Around the World in 80 Deaths featuring authors from Argentina, the Sicangu Lakota Nation, Russia and Nigeria chaired by Craig Sisterson. Festival Director, Bob McDevitt said: 'It's going to be a Bloody Scotland like no other but we do love a challenge and I can't wait to see all of our authors, and crime fans back together in real life while extending our global reach as we beam the festival all over the world.' Stirling Council Leader, Councillor Scott Farmer said: 'I'm delighted to welcome back Bloody Scotland to Stirling. The return of this famous event, which showcases the best in Scottish crime writing, is a significant boost for tourism as well as Stirling's wider economic recovery from the pandemic. Stirling is without doubt an excellent destination for world class events and the hosting of Bloody Scotland does justice to our reputation for hosting further events of this nature.' Deputy Leader, Councillor, Chris Kane said 'It's truly wonderful to be able to welcome some of the finest crime writers to Stirling for one of the country's significant literary festivals which attracts international attention. Our recovery from the pandemic is helped enormously by being able to host the Bloody Scotland International Crime Festival and highlights our historic city as a hub for culture and arts for visitors around the world.' Browse the full programme here. Read more about the programme and its hybrid nature and how to buy tickets here.

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