Mark Billingham Mark Billingham is one of the UK's most acclaimed and popular crime writers. His series of London-based novels featuring D.I. Tom Thorne has won him the Sherlock Award, the Theakston's Crime Novel Of The Year Award and been nominated for five CWA Daggers. Each book, from his debut Sleepyhead, to the most recent, Death Message, has been a Sunday Times Top Ten bestseller. Mark has also worked successfully as a stand-up comedian for more than fifteen years and he is still a regular performer at the country's biggest comedy clubs. Mark also writes for a number of newspapers and magazines including Time Out, The Daily Telegraph, The Independent and The Sunday Times.   www.markbillingham.com
	John Connor John Connor became a barrister in 1988 and spent fifteen years working for the Crown Prosecution Service in London and West Yorkshire. He was involved in over thirty homicide prosecutions and provided advice to the police in numerous long term undercover operations. In 2001 Connor coordinated the enquiry into and prosecution of the Bradford rioters. His groundbreaking work there resulted in changes to police procedures across the UK. John was born in England and now divides his time between Belgium, London and Yorkshire.
	Ruth Downie Ruth Downie is the author of a series of historical mystery novels set in Roman Britain featuring Army medic Gaius Petreius Ruso. Meticulously researched, this charming and colourful series is a must-read for Lindsey Davis fans. Ruth is also a keen amateur archaelogist and attendees will be able to interact with Ruso's world by handling pieces of Roman pottery.
	R. J. Ellory RJ Ellory is one of the most talented crime writers to emerge from Britain in recent years and his selection for the Richard & Judy book club earlier placed him firmly on the bestsellers lists. His novels have been translated into Italian, German and Dutch, and his novel Candlemoth was shortlisted for the Crime Writers' Association Steel Dagger for Best Thriller in 2003. He now divides his time between his work as a novelist and voluntary programmes in the areas of drug rehabilitation and youth literacy. www.rogerjonellory.com
	Frances Fyfield Frances Fyfield is a criminal lawyer, a trade she has used to huge success in many of her novels.  She lives in London and in Deal, by the sea, which is her passion.  She has won several awards, including the Silver Dagger.  Dramatisations of her earlier novels, starring Amanda Burton, have recently been broadcast on national television. She writes novels rich in character, humour and compassion in a way that satisfies the non-crime reader, without ever neglecting the true storyteller's imperative of breathtaking suspense.  In 2006 she was shortlisted for the Duncan Lawrie Dagger for Best Crime Novel of the Year, for Safer Than Houses.   www.francesfyfield.co.uk
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx	Meg Gardiner Originally from Santa Barbara, California, Meg Gardiner studied at Stanford University and went on to practise law and teach at the University of California. She moved to England and now lives with her family in Surrey. Her first novel, China Lake, was published in 2002 and introduced readers to her much-loved protagonist Evan Delaney. Her latest novel, The Dirty Secrets Club, is her sixth. www.meggardiner.com
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx	Robert Goddard Robert Goddard was born in Hampshire and read History at Cambridge. His first novel, Past Caring, was an instant bestseller. Since then his books have captivated readers world-wide with their edge-of-the-seat pace and their labyrinthine plotting. His first Harry Barnett novel, Into the Blue, was winner of the first WH Smith Thumping Good Read Award and was dramatized for TV, starring John Thaw. His latest novel, Found Wanting, is published in September 2008 Photograph © Jerry Bauer
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx	Alex Gray Alex Gray was born and educated in Glasgow. After studying English and Philosophy at the University of Strathclyde, she worked as a visiting officer for the DHSS, a time she looks upon as postgraduate education since it proved a rich source of character studies. Alex began writing commercially in 1992, has been awarded the Scottish Association of Writers' Constable and Pitlochry trophies for her crime writing and has a rapidly growing fan-base of readers. www.alex-gray.com
	Sophie Hannah   Sophie Hannah is a prize winning poet and short story writer.  The Observer described her debut novel, Little Face as: "one of the best reads of 2006" and translation rights were sold to ten countries. Hurting Distance was published in August 2007 and the two books have now sold over 150,000 copies.  The Sunday Times said: "Hurting Distance confirms Sophie Hannah as a rivetingly original arrival in crime fiction." The Point of Rescue is her third novel. Hat Trick Productions have optioned all three novels for a Prime Suspect-style television series.   www.sophiehannah.com
	John Harvey    John Harvey is the author of the richly praised Charlie Resnick novels, the first of which, Lonely Hearts, was named by The Times as one of the '100 Best Crime Novels of the Century.' His first novel featuring retired Detective Inspector Frank Elder, Flesh and Blood, won the CWA Silver Dagger in 2004, and also won a Barry award for the Best British Crime Novel published in the US in 2004. In 2007John Harvey won the CWA Cartier Diamond Dagger for sustained excellence in the genre. He is also a poet, dramatist and occasional broadcaster.    www.mellotone.co.uk
	David Hewson David Hewson is the best-selling author of the Nic Costa series of crime novels set in Rome which are translated into many different languages around the world. His sixth and most recent novel, The Garden of Evil, was published earlier this year by Pan Macmillan.   His first novel, Semana Santa, was made into a movie with Mira Sorvino. Before turning to writing full time he was a journalist with the Times and Sunday Times. He lives in Kent. Photograph © Mark Bothwell www.davidhewson.com
	Graham Hurley   Graham Hurley is renowned for the nerve-jangling realism of his books, it has gained him a reputation not only as one of Britain's best authors, but as a truly authoritative voice in crime fiction. Hurley spent twenty years as a documentary film maker, this background has had a profound influence on his writing, bringing to his work an authenticity that was inspired by his earlier journalistic career.   www.grahamhurley.co.uk
	Michael Jecks Michael Jecks' books are based on actual events or Dartmoor legend. Apart from writing two books a year, Mike regularly tours the UK, Europe and America giving talks on medieval history and writing issues. He is the founder member of Medieval Murderers, a group of performing authors, a regular participant at literary festivals, and popular guest speaker www.michaeljecks.co.uk
	Simon Kernick Simon Kernick is the author of Relentless, which was the biggest thriller of 2007. He is also chairman of the prestigious Harrogate Crime-Writing Festival in 2008. He reviews fiction regularly for the Simon Mayo Bookshow on Radio 5 Live, and has appeared on Sky News where he gave a crime-writers view on the Suffolk prostitute murders. Relentless was selected as a Richard and Judy Summer Read in 2007. Photograph © Johnny Ring www.simonkernick.com
	Patrick Lennon Patrick Lennon grew up in Cambridge and has lived in Thailand, Italy, France and Mexico. Today he splits his time between his young family, his writing and running his own business. He lives near Reading. 2008 sees the publication of his second crime novel Steel Witches which, like his debut Corn Dolls, is set in Cambridgeshire. www.patrick-lennon.co.uk
	Peter Lovesey Peter Lovesey remains one our finest English mystery writers. He has won the Crime Writer's Association Silver, Gold and Cartier Diamond Daggers as well as their Short Story Award. He is the creator of Sergeant Cribb, Peter Diamond and Hen Mallin, and story consultant for Rosemary and Thyme. Thirteen books by Peter Lovesey have won or been short-listed for major awards, his novels have been translated into 22 languages and ten of them have been seen on film or television. Peter Lovesey's thirtieth novel, The Headhunters, is published by Sphere.   www.peterlovesey.co.uk
	John Macken By day John Macken work as a scientist running a group of cancer researchers in a large windowless building. By night he writes forensic crime novels, including Dirty Little Lies and Trial by Blood.
	Val McDermid  Val McDermid grew up in a Scottish mining community before reading English at Oxford. She was a journalist for sixteen years, spending the last three as Northern Bureau Chief of a national Sunday tabloid. Her latest novel Beneath the Bleeding was both a hardback and paperback Top Ten bestseller. She is a winner of the CWA Gold Dagger and many more literary awards throughout the world and in 2008 won The Stonewall Writer of the Year Award.  A Darker Domain, set mainly in Fife, is published in hardback in September. 2008 will see the sixth series of the ever popular ITV series Wire in the Blood based on Val McDermid's books and a new ITV 3-part drama serial which is based on A Place of Execution.   www.valmcdermid.com
	Stuart Pawson  Stuart took up writing seriously after a career as a mining engineer and a spell working for the Probation Service in their restorative justice initiative. This gave him an insight into the workings of the criminal justice system which he put to good use in his first novel, The Picasso Scam. His twelfth in the series, Grief Encounters, was published in paperback in July 2008.   Stuart can often be found tramping across the northern hills that form a backdrop to his stories. He has been shortlisted for the CWA Short Story Award and twice for the Dagger in the Library.   www.meanstreets.co.uk
	Malcolm Rose Malcolm Rose began writing stories as a hobby while taking a PhD in chemistry.  He became a Lecturer in Chemistry but he put aside his test-tubes ten years ago to concentrate on writing.  He lives in Sheffield and has written 31 science-based thrillers, mysteries and crime stories, highlighting the forensic science that lurks behind police investigations.  Malcolm has won a number of awards for his writing. His latest books are the thrillers, Hurricane Force and The Death Gene, and the sixth volume of his quirky Traces crime series, Blood Brother.   www.malcolmrose.co.uk
	Cath Staincliffe Cath Staincliffe is the author of the acclaimed Sal Kilkenny mysteries.  Looking For Trouble launched single-parent, private eye Sal onto Manchester's mean streets.  It was short-listed for the CWA best first novel award and serialised on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour. Cath is also a scriptwriter, creator of  ITV's hit police series, Blue Murder, starring Caroline Quentin as DCI Janine Lewis.  Cath was short-listed for the CWA Dagger in the Library award 2006. Cath's latest publication is Missing, the seventh in the Sal Kilkeny series. Photograph © Paul Herrmann
	Veronica Stallwood Veronica Stallwood lives near Oxford where her popular Kate Ivory series is set. As well as writing, Veronica regularly gives talks to libraries and colleges and also teaches creative writing. Oxford Menace, the 13th novel in the Kate Ivory series will be published in September.    www.veronicastallwood.com
	Aline Templeton Aline grew up in Anstruther and wrote her first novel at the age of 6!  Even then, she knew that she wanted to be a novelist and it was no surprise that she went on to study English at Cambridge and then to teach in Edinburgh, before turning to writing full-time. Lamb to the Slaughter is Aline Templeton's fourth novel featuring DI Marjory Fleming and a fine demonstration of her great literary skill, ingenuity and originality.
	Lee Weeks   Hailed as the female James Patterson, Lee Weeks left school at sixteen. After a brief, aborted spell in art college, she started travelling for seven years only returning to take a crash course at college and her missing GCSEs and A levels. At the end of her travels she bought a one-way ticket to Hong Kong, where her debut novel The Trophy Taker is based.    www.leeweeks.co.uk
	Laura Wilson Laura Wilson's psychological thrillers have been critically acclaimed, and the first A Little Death, was shortlisted for the Anthony Award for Best Paperback Original and the Ellis Peters Award. The Lover was shortlisted for the CWA Gold Dagger and the Ellis Peters Award, and won the French Prix du Polar Europeen. A Thousand Lives was shortlisted for the Duncan Lawrie Dagger. Her most recent novel is Stratton's War. She also reviews crime fiction for the Guardian. www.laura-wilson.co.uk
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