World renowned crime writer, Val McDermid, is on her way to Iceland to swear and discuss queer crime fiction!
That‘s right, the Scot queen of Tartan Noir is one of the biggest names on the bill for this year‘s Iceland Noir, happening in Reykjavík 17-20 November. McDermid will be keynote speaker at the opening reception in the City Hall and then participate in no fewer than three panels on Saturday 19 November.
Initially, McDermid was penned down as panelist on Nordic Noir Fiction Crimes and The ****ing Swearing Panel – possibly the most obvious panel for her to be on with Scots being somewhat notorious for their cussing prowess – where participants need to weave together as many swear words as possible during their discussions.
However, as soon as McDermid learned that there would be a Queer Crime panel, she requested to be a panelist there too, according to co-organizer and author Lilja Sigurðardóttir.
An award-winning crime writer, Val McDermid is perhaps best known for her series about psychologist Tony Hill who works as a profiler with DCI Carol Jordan on solving gripping murder cases; those who haven’t gotten round to reading the books might have seen these characters on the TV screen, portrayed by actors Robson Green and Hermione Norris in Wire in the Blood, award-winning crime drama series based on McDermid’s books.
Publishing almost one book a year since 1987, McDermid’s work mostly falls into three series: private investigator Kate Brannigan, detective Lindsay Gordon and the Tony and Carol collaboration. But her books also include several independent crime novels, short stories, non-fiction and even one children’s book.
The Queer Crime panel at Iceland Noir literary festival will be on at 3.30pm on the Saturday and will be moderated by Jacky Collins and, along with McDermid and Lilja Sigurðardóttir, participants will be Mari Hannah, creator of lesbian DCI Kate Daniels; crime writer David Swatling and Iceland‘s very own queen of crime, Yrsa Sigurðardóttir.
GayIceland will publish an exclusive interview with Val McDermid later this week, where she discusses her upcoming visit to Iceland, the noir crime literary genre and queer crime fiction. And there may be some cursing, stay tuned!
Main photo: www.pexcels.com