Wales’s Very First International Crime Festival Comes to Aberystwyth!

Something dastardly, devious and deadly is afoot in Aberystwyth, and everyone’s invited!

Get your diaries out and your little grey cells ready to investigate. Wales’s very first international crime fiction festival Gŵyl CRIME CYMRU Festival kicks off in Aberystwyth in April, 2023, bringing its own brand of murder, mystery and mayhem to the seaside town.

The Motive?

‘How is it possible?’, you may ask, that, with crime fiction the biggest selling genre in Britain, and more Welsh crime writers than ever, Wales has never had a dedicated crime event of its own? Nothing to rival the likes of Scotland’s hugely popular Bloody Scotland, Newcastle’s Noir festival or Bristol’s Crimefest? 

Despite the fact Wales is home to, or the inspiration behind, the works of many bestselling authors like Clare Mackintosh and Belinda Bauer, and Welsh crime dramas (Hinterland/Y Gwyll, Keeping Faith/Un Bore Mercher, Hidden/Craith and The Light in The Hall/Y Golau) attracting international fans, it seems that crime fiction set in Wales is simply not as well-known as its UK counterparts. Now Crime Cymru, the Welsh crime writing cooperative behind the Gŵyl CRIME CYMRU Festival, aims to change that.

The Means?

Crime Cymru believes that Wales has something unique to offer the world of crime fiction and we are determined to change perceptions with our own international crime festival.

Following two highly successful online festivals in 2021 and 2022, the first physical festival will take place in Aberystwyth from April 21-23, 2023, in association with Aberystwyth Council and Waterstones, with the support of the Welsh Government, Literature Wales and The Arts Council of Wales.

High-profile, novelistslike Clare Mackintosh, Mari Hannah, Caro Ramsay and Ben Aaronovitch are already signed up to the guest list alongside home-grown authors from Crime Cymru. 

The Opportunity?

This is going to be a fantastic chance for crime fans to join guest authors for some amateur sleuthing and watch bestselling writers talk about their work as we bring the Who-dunnit? Why-dunnit? Where-dunnit?  and How-dunnit? of crime fiction to one of Wales’s most scenic locations. The weekend will include events and workshops in both English and Welsh, a dragon parade and gala evening, as well as opportunities for readers and writers to mingle in more informal settings.

‘It’s so exciting to be bringing Wales its very first official crime fiction festival and there’s going to be something for everyone,’ says one of Crime Cymru’s founder members and chair of the festival organising group, Alis Hawkins. ‘From police procedurals, through psychological thrillers, to historical crime fiction and cosy crime – you name it, we’ve got it at the festival.

‘Basically, all weekend, you’ll have the chance to see household names from TV and crime fiction talking about their work as we run events throughout Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning, all in one of the most beautiful and vibrant seaside towns in Wales. What could be better than that for crime fiction lovers?’

The festival committee includes Crime Cymru authors:

Alis Hawkins, whose Teifi Valley Coroner series, set in 19^th Century Cardiganshire, has twice been shortlisted for the Crime Writers’ Association Historical Dagger award. Her new mystery A Bitter Remedy, due to be published in March, is set in 19^th Century Oxford and features Welsh heroine Non Vaughan.

Chris Lloyd from Penarth, whose many fiction accomplishments include his detective series featuring Eddie Giral, a French police officer in Paris under Nazi occupation. The first title in this series, The Unwanted Dead, was the winner of the Historical Writers’ Association Gold Crown and was shortlisted for the Crime Writers’ Association Historical Dagger.

Beverley Jones (BE Jones) a former journalist and police press officer from Pontypridd, and author of seven contemporary psychological thrillers. Her sixth novel, ‘Wilderness’ is due to air on Amazon Prime later in 2023, as a six-part drama starring Jenna Coleman and Oliver Jackson-Cohen.

To see the full list of Crime Cymru authors, their books, locations and profiles, please visit our website crime.cymru

Readers and fans.

Please visit our website www.GwylCrimeCymruFestival.co.uk where the full programme and ticket information will be available soon, and our crime.cymru site, which we’ll be updating each week with news.

Sign up online to get the latest updates on our emerging guest list and to find out how to book a seat for your favourite author.

Credit to @GwylCrimeCymruFestival and @Crime.Cymru who provided the above post