Tag: leeds libraries

My DNA Is Leeds…

On By chrisnickson2In Cathy Marsden, leeds, simon westow, the tin god, tom harperLeave a comment

Hard to believe that it’s almost two weeks since the wonderful launch for No Precious Truth. Time’s felt compressed since then. But April has seemed to rush by, as if it was sprinting, so strange after a never-ending March.

A week later and the Yorkshire Post published an interview with me, one that captured me and my writing pretty well, I think.

I’d barely caught my breath when I had to write a paper I’d agreed to present at a symposium for music in the Leeds collections, in the new music library (and you really should see it) that’s part of the central library. I’d been asked to talk about Frank Kidson and his materials. A shock to me, as I’m no academic – not even a degree – but I’m a great admirer of Kidson and what he did.

He and his niece and companion, Ethel, are minor characters in the Tom Harper book, The Tin God, where his knowledge of folk song is important in unravelling the clues. He was one of the pioneering Victorian folk song collectors, penning a column about songs in the Leeds Mercury Supplement for a few years and published books on folk music; the most famous is the influential Traditional Tunes, which was largely preciously unknown music, much from Yorkshire, especially Leeds.

Leeds Libraries has an excellent collection, a handwritten biography of him by his niece, his watercolour sketchbook, arrangement of songs he worked on with composer Arthur Grimshaw (son of the famous Leeds painter Atkinson Grimshaw), and much more.

It was an honour to be asked to do this and have the rare luxury of spending time with the materials. I’ve wrote about Kidson for fRoots magazine in 2018 and I was grateful for the chance to spend time with him once more.

The day after was my school reunion. 53 years, although we bulked up the numbers by including the two years below. It was interesting. I’d expected it to be that, so I wasn’t disappointed. I’d seen a couple of the people more recently, and it was good to catch up with them. But I was never part of the mainstream at school, and there were plenty I didn’t recall.

Tomorrow, another symposium, this time at the law school of the University of Sheffield. Talking about crime fiction, so I’ve prepared that paper, even as I’ve been going through the proofs for A Rage Of Souls, the next Simon Westow novel, coming in October.

After that, I’ll be ready to take the long weekend off…

Of course, No Precious Truth hasn’t even been out for a month yet. If you haven’t read it yet, I’d certainly appreciate the sales. Independent bookshops are always best, but wherever you want. And for those on a budget, please, ask your public library to order it in, if they haven’t already. A little about Cathy from the Yorkshire Post interview, just to convince you.

About That Big Event

On By chrisnickson2In annabelle harper, gods of gold, leeds, skin like silver, the tin god, tom harper, two bronze pennies4 Comments

Well, it happened. Last week my exhibition A Copper’s Eye: Tom Harper’s Leeds 1890-1920 opened at Leeds Libraries. Then Monday night saw the event to go with it. Was it a big deal? Yes, it really was, the culmination of the biggest thing I’ve done in my life.

A celebration of Tom and Annabelle Harper, yes, as the series them ended with the publication of Rusted Souls (the Morning Star termed the series “a testament to historical crime fiction”). But it also celebrated a slice of Leeds history, the period covedred in the books, with some of the real events who were in the books.

I astonished everyone by turning up in a suit and tie, the first time most had ever seen me dressed up, and not even directly from a court appearance. I talked, but there were also mirco lectures from suffrage historian Vine Pemberton Joss, on the 1894 Local Government Act and the 1908 Suffragette Riot. Dr. Anna Reeve explained how ancient Cypriot poterry ended up in The Iron Water (fitting, as she told me about it in the first place).

The great political figure Tom Maguire was represented, with one of his poems set to music and performed by industrial ballad singer Jennifer Reid. You can listen to it here.

And the Harpers? Daughter Mary was there in the flesh (played by Amy McCann. Annabelle couldn’t make it, but we did have a recording of a speech she gave when campaigning to become a Poor Law Guardian in 1897. Hear her right here.

The librarians were oncredible, putting out some wonderful artefacts and helping things to go far more smoothly than they should with no run-through or rehearsal.

People seemed to like it. About 50 showed up on a rainy Monday night, and the Lord Mayor told me she’s a fan of the books.

I was drained when the adrenaline finally left my system. But I was happy. I think I’ve written Tom and Annabelle into the fabric of Leeds history, and that’s the best tribute I can pay them. They were Leeds.

Meanwhile, here’s a gallery of some of the sights and sounds from Monday night for those who couldn’t attend. And remember, you can still but Rusted Souls.

The Week Of Wonders

On By chrisnickson2In annabelle harper, gods of gold, leeds, simon westow, tom harper, two bronze pennies2 Comments

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.

An Exhibition And Event

On By chrisnickson2In annabelle harper, leeds, tom harperLeave a comment

As you may know. September will mark the publication of Rusted Souls, the 11th and final Tom Harper novel. Set in 1920, it takes place at the very end of Tom’s career. He’s now Chief Constable of Leeds, but there are still three cases he wants resolved before he walks into retirement.

If you’re registered on NetGalley with Severn House, the book is now available to read. I hope you will, and leave a review; that would be hugely appreciated.

To makr the end of this era, I’m working with the excellent Leeds Libraries on an event an exhibition in early October. The working title is A Copper’s View: Leeds Through Tom Harper’s Eyes, 1890-1920. It’s going to highlight some of the real Leeds history from the books, using photos from the Leodis photo archives and artefacts from different collections. It should be a unqiue glimpse into 30 years of great changes in our city.

There will also be an event in the Family History Library of the Central Library – where the exhibition takes place. I’ll be going through the things we’ve used and how they relate to the books, and to Tom and, of course, Annabelle and Mary. Expect something very personal, including Annabelle’s election as a Poor Law Guardian and the Victoria public house. The exact date is yet to be confirmed, but it’ll be in the first two weeks of April. The should be plenty of places, and it will be free, but you’ll need to reserve a seat. There may even be a couple of special guests. We’ll see.

In the meantime, if you’re not on NetGalley, you can pre-order Rusted Souls. If you’re in the UK, the cheapest hardback price, by far, is here, and includes free postage. It’s good, worth your money, I promise you that. If you haven’t begun the series yet, both Gods of Gold and Two Bronze Pennies, the first two Harper books, are currently £2.84 each for Kindle.

May You Live In Interesting Times

On By chrisnickson2In annabelle harper, dark briggate blues, leeds, richard nottingham, tom harper, Uncategorized2 Comments

There appear to be some mighty things afoot. Autumn is going to be very busy. Three – yes, three! – books coming out, although the real highlight is going to be Free From All Danger, the first Richard Nottingham novel in over four years. The proofs have been completed and it’s with the printer, due out in October.

Richard and his family have always had a place deep in my heart, so it’s only right that the book launch should be a celebration. It’s going to be at the Leeds Library on Commercial Street on Thursday, November 9, at 7 pm (free, of course, but please contact them and book a place). It’s going to be an event, with a script and a specially-composed soundtrack by Chris Emmerson. There may also be some live music.

To start the ball rolling, here’s the first trailer for the book

May 2018 will see the publication of The Tin God, the sixth Tom Harper novel. My publisher said this about it: “…this latest entry continues the ongoing series themes of social change and progress, tradition vs modernisation, female emancipation, the grinding poverty and social injustice of the times, to superb effect, highlighting all too vividly the tensions caused by such rapid social change: what is highly welcome for some being anathema to others.  (Such tensions being all too evident in politics today).

 

Once again, devoted family man Tom Harper and his spirited wife Annabelle, battling passionately for the causes she believes in as an early pioneer on the long march towards women’s equality, make for thoroughly likeable lead protagonists, and the plot skips along at an impressive pace, conjuring up a compelling sense of rising tension as the election approaches.”

 

The launch event for this one will be a little different; it will be folded into an exhibition called The Vote Before The Vote at Leeds Central Library (2018, of course, marks the centenary of some women receiving the vote, although the exhibition highlights that many could vote in local elections before that. It will be curated by independent academic Vine Pemberton Joss, whose suggestion sparked the book.

 

Lastly, it looks as if Dan Markham from Dark Briggate Blues will star in a play. And a play with live jazz, at that. Nothing’s set in stone, but it seems likely to happen at Leeds Jazz Fest next July, and will mostly be a celebration of Studio 20, Leeds’ pioneering jazz club ibn the 1950s. No title yet, but the next 12 months promise to be very exciting.