I’ve been looking at other novelists’ sleuths – medieval or otherwise – as part of my current work on a series of medieval murder mysteries. The novel I am writing features a Catalan female troubadour and is set in 11thcentury Toulouse.
Other sleuths I’ve been studying include Ellis Peter’s Cadfael, Donna Leon’s Brunetti, Lee Child’s Reacher, C.J. Sansom’s Shardlake, Jo Nesbo’s Harry Hole, Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Milhone, and Cassandra Clark’s Hildegard. I’m interested in long-running series and how the central character is drawn and developed across the series.
I will be giving an illustrated talk about writing a medieval murder mystery at Parisot Library in France on Saturday 9 April 10.30am (followed by aperos) as part of their Library Lit programme.
In addition to talking about the novel I’m working on now, I will also talk about my recently published novel, The Anarchy. In The Anarchy, Sheriff Haith tries to uncover the truth about the sinking of The White Ship in the English Channel. King Henry I’s only legitimate son and heir and 300 other young Norman nobles died in the wreck. Come along to the Parisot Library if you are in the area. In October every year, Parisot hosts a marvellous bi-lingual literary festival, Festilitt.
I am delighted that in-person author events are resuming at last. I will also be speaking at the Historical Novel Society conference in Durham on 4 September and participating in the Narberth Book Fair in Wales 24-25 September. More event news coming up soon.
Tracey Warr Writing 