World Book Day 2025: Why Derby deserves a crime and romance writing festival of its own
My revelation comes after a visit to Harrogate Crime Writing Festival which was eye-opening and fabulous
World Book Day 2025 today gives me an excuse to celebrate books and book events across the country.
It feels a wave of bookish optimism sweeps over Derby.
I know several schools are getting involved by encouraging ‘character dress up’.
Bookstores such as Waterstones Derby are getting into the book celebration spirit too, by selling World Book Day books.
I am a grateful soul so I am super pleased that books are being honoured.
However, I wish there were more book events in Derby where reading is a pastime that is given space to shine.
I remember visiting Harrogate for the first time in 2023 for the town’s annual crime writing festival.
It was glorious.
Officially titled Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, the four-day extravaganza - there is no other word to describe it - is filled with crime writing centric events including panels of crime authors sharing their expertise and writing journey.
I stayed for the full duration, arriving in Harrogate on Thursday, July 20, which was the festival’s opening day, and leaving Sunday, July 23.
If I could compare me as a person before, and after my Harrogate festival experience - me on Thursday versus me on Sunday - the difference would be stark.
I felt like a totally different person.
I arrived in Harrogate with a spring in my step, excited to meet authors whose books grace my bookshelves at home.
On Sunday, I felt my soul was full of hope, bookish spirit and elation at meeting top authors including queen of crime writing Clare Mackintosh, and seeing my writing heroes such as Lee Child and Lisa Jewell.
Yes I was a little bleary-eyed, a full roster of 20+ events will do that to you, however the Harrogate Crime Writing Festival was one of the best events I have experienced in my life.
Why?
I felt massively invigorated and filled with enthusiasm, because meeting your hero authors and being surrounded by like-minded bibliophiles is dreamy.
It got me thinking… why doesn’t Derby have its own crime and romance writing festival?
If I felt this amazing, this buoyed, after attending a book event, wouldn’t it be fabulous that others can feel the same way too?
Other authors whom I was privileged to watch on stage and meet include Vaseem Khan, Val McDermid, Lisa Ruth Ware, Jeffery Deaver and Andrew Child.
These people are crime writing royalty.
To be in the same marquee as them was honestly exhilarating and judging by the reactions of other bookish fan attendees, I wasn’t the only one.
Wouldn’t it be magic to bottle up that feeling you get from being immersed in books you love, and have it on hand for the rest of your life?
As gorgeous as that sounds, it is unfortunately impossible.
However, the next best thing would be to try to organise an event, similar to the Harrogate Crime Festival, here in Derby.
Why Derby should have its own crime and romance writing festival
There is already a very good annual event called the Derby Book Festival.
Do we really need another one?
Yes!
You can never have too many book festivals in your life.
Sian Hoyle, Derby Book Festival co-organiser does an excellent job, she told DerbyWorld in 2023: “Over the past eight years Derby Book Festival has established itself as one of the most successful in the East Midlands with its wide-ranging programme of events aimed at all ages and interests.
“It is now one of the key events in the city’s annual arts and cultural calendar.
“The festival’s success is largely due to the wonderful support from the city’s arts venues, libraries, university and college as well as individual and business sponsors.
“In 2023, the May festival, held over nine days, welcomed over 3,000 visitors to events and reached around 11,000 school children through their education programme, inspiring a new generation of readers and writers.”
Why specifically a crime and romance writing festival?
Why not?
I still recall a conversation with my careers advisor when I was contemplating my A-levels (yes I am that old).
When I expressed a desire to study English literature and home economics, my advisor at the time said the two subjects are not compatible, because there is no way I would use them together.
Now, the thing with me is that I go with my gut.
Fast forward to 2025, and I am using my writing and cooking nous to be, among other things, a food writer and food critic.
Why not pair two topics together, regardless of compatibility, if they bring you joy?
That is how I feel about crime and romance.
Yes I love a good psychological thriller, however I also love a cute romantic novel.
This is what a lifetime of watching Bollywood movies will do to you.
Your soul will be imbued with scenes of happily-ever-afters, rain dances and pretty people running through fields (not a Theresa May wheat field scenario but a lush green one) doing exquisite and sometimes bonkers dance movements.
I think crime and romance are two genres that can happily co-exist with each other and will, I believe to my very core, be the basis of a fun and entertaining roster of events.
Good for the local economy
I spent one glorious long weekend in Harrogate, plus a boatload of money.
I think I single-handedly inadvertently sponsored next year’s Harrogate crime writing festival, my bank account got such a hammering with all those books that I just had to have.
We drank, dined and shopped in Harrogate.
A number of hotels and boutique shops lining Montpellier Quarter also got in the mood and decorated their shop windows with books, fake crime scene banners and more crime fiction related paraphernalia.
It drew me in and countless others too, which means money spent went right back into the local economy.
Just think if a crime and romance festival happened in Derby, which shops and eateries would also get into crime spirit?
Perhaps Turtle Bay restaurant would dedicate its enviably giant window to a nice book display showcasing Vaseem Khan’s excellent series about The Unexpected Inheritance of Inspector Chopra?
Or maybe The Kitchen on Sadler Gate can get a musician for their amazing mic nights, who plays romantic songs, flanked by a display of cute-as-heck romantic novels by Trisha Ashley?
Our Trisha may also be on hand to sign books, meet fans and grab a bite to eat (The Kitchen do scrumptious pizzas)!
Celebrating the queen of crime fiction, perhaps Milk & Honey deli could host an Agatha Christie-themed afternoon tea (dress up essential)?
See, it all sounds like great fun, doesn’t it?
Who’s with me? If you want to see this crime and romance festival happening in Derby, get in touch, let’s make it happen!