A Copper’s Eye: Tom Harper’s Leeds 1890-1920 exhibition has opened in the Family and History Library at Leeds Central Library, available to enjoy whenever the library is open.
I spent for days last week hanging it, and much of the week before that gluing pictures and the posters to the foam boards to go on the wall.
It’s been stressful, no doubt about that, and the biggest thing I’ve ever done, definitely stretching me – which may or may not be a good thing. The jury’s still out on that one.
From conception to opening has taken about two months. A blink of an eye, although it feels like so much longer. But I’m hugely honoured that someone wants to give space to Tom and Annabelle and the series that the Morning Star said will “stand for some time as one of the monuments of historical crime fiction.”
More than that, it’s a celebration of the city I love, that raised me.
Have a very quick look around.
Next Monday will see an event as part of it all, with micro-talks, special music, an actor, and more.
This labour of love is wonderful, it’s cemented the Harpers firmly into Leeds history.
But this is the very last exhibition I will ever do.
Just over a week until Rusted Souls is officially published. But what’s in a date? People are already buying it and reading it and I feel honoured by the effect Tom and Annabelle have on people: “There were times when I held my breath and yes, times when I cried. An outstanding ending chapter to an outstanding saga. You create characters that not only become “family” to you but who become very real people to your readers as well.”
That feels like one of the best tributes possible.
Now I have to hope all of you feel the same when you read it. Please, buy it if you can. If you can’t, ask your public library to order in a copy. It means a lot to me to have people read this one.
If you can, then come to the book launch at Chapel Allerton library in Leeds. It’s Thursday, September 14. Free, and even some wine, but do book a place – the link is in the pic. Places are minited, the library is small.
Rusted Souls, indeed, the entire eleven books of the Tom Harper series, are the basis for the exhibition A Copper’s Eye: Tom Harper’s Leeds, 1890-1920, which is less than a month away now. I think – hope – I’m on top of things. And I’m still organising the event on October 2, going through everything on show, and with some special guests.
Again, it’s free, but book you’re place right here. Hand on my heart, they’re going quickly (17 in less than a week with no announcement).
Meanwhile, I’m also working through the publisher’s edit for the next Simon Westow, out next spring. No rest for the wicked, indeed.
Definitely been quite a week for me, Tom and Annabelle, and Rusted Souls. The first part I’ve known for a little while, but had to wait until it was published.
Booklist, one of the big US trade magazines, put out its review of Rusted Souls. Both Publishers Weekly and Kirkus Reviews had given it starred reviews – could it do the treble? Not quite, although it’s everything but. How about this?
“Nickson’s excellent historical police procedural shows what policing was like before computers, surveillance cameras, and national crime databases, and while readers may find the pacing slow in the first part of the story, they will soon be utterly gripped by a riveting, very human, very heartbreaking story with suspense, fast-paced action, vivid characters, and an unexpected tearjerker of an ending in this last book of Nickson’s magnificent Tom Harper series.”
Wow, right?
That’s the kind of thing to make a heart sing. But then, on Saturday, the Yorkshire Post published a two-page feature on me, Rusted Souls, the Tom Hraper series, and the upcoming exhibition I’m preparing based on the books, called A Copper’s Eye: Tom Harper’s Leeds, 1890-1920. Quite something.
Don’t forget that Rusted Souls is out next month (but shops are selling it already). If you can afford it, I’d greatly appreciate you buying a hardback or ebook of it. If not, your library will gladly order it it for you.
It’s been quite a week – well, a week and a half, really. Today I’m just going to stop and catch my breath, because I feel I’ve been going full tilt.
It all began with my publisher sending me the review for Rusted Souls from Publishers Weekly, one of the big US literary trades. A good review in the trades can certainly boost sales. So I’d been waiting nervous, even though the book isn’t out until September 5. And…it was a starred review. What I’d been dreaming and crossing my fingers to have.
“It all culminates in a knockout conclusion that showcases Nickson’s unique blend of intricate plotting and well-rounded character development.”
Wow.
Then a meeting with Leeds Libraries to finalize details for the exhibition A Copper’s Eye: Tom Harper’s Leeds, 1890-1920. It’s going to run in the Family History Library at Leeds Central Library from September 25 to October 7, with photos from the Leodis archive, artefacts and more to illustrate the real incidents and people from the books. The event will have a few guests to spotlight items, plus a recorded song by Jennifer Reid (Gallows Pole), who’s set a poem by Leeds socialist politician Tom Maguire to music.
Then another review from the US trades, Kirkus Reviews. I was overwhelmed when they gave it a starred review, sating “The 11th and final installment of Nickson’s Tom Harper series ties up all the loose ends and breaks your heart…an excellent procedural paints a painfully accurate portrait of dealing with dementia.”
I was floating – I’m sure you can imagine.
Then, on eBay, I discovered a token for the Green Dragon Inn, in Leeds. In the Simon Westow novels, Jane lives in a cottage with Mrs Shields located behind Green Dragon Yard. What could I do? I bought it.
The real highlight came last Friday. I’d discovered online that a former English teacher of mine would be visiting my old school, and an old classmate happened to have his email. The teacher is someone I’ve long wanted to thank, because he was the first to encourage my writing. I emailed, and he remembered me. Not only that, he told me that way back then, he’d sent some of my poems to a New Writing programme on Radio Leeds, although nothing ever happened.
By the time we briefly met on Friday at the school, he was halfway through the second of my books that he’d read, and I gave him two more. And finally I had a chance to say thank you to a teacher who helped change my life.
Finally, yesterday I was interviewed for a piece about Rusted Souls, the Tom Harper series and the exhibition for an article to appear in a few weeks in the Yorkshire Post. Details to follow…
You can pre-order Rusted Souls in hardback – here is the cheapest price, with free UK postage. If you haven’t started the series yet, the first two books, Gods of Gold and Two Bronze Pennies, are under £3 on Kindle in the UK.
Chris Nickson 