Category: doing

1932 vintage dress for Miss Clara Vale

I’ve been making another vintage dress. This one is a 1932 inspired Chanel evening dress in teal Crepe Georgette. It was a challenging make, not least because the instructions on these vintage patterns are so sparse! That and they seemed to have very skinny arms back in those days (well that’s my excuse and I’m going to stick with it.) This is the dress that Miss Clara Vale will be wearing in book 4 in the series, Another Class of Murder. Meanwhile, I will give it a test run at Crime Fest in Bristol next week.

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Sex, power & feminism – and mince pies – at Newcastle Noir

As Darkness Falls historical crime panel at Newcastle Noir 2023. With, from left to right, panel host Fiona Erskine (The Chemical Detective), Bridget Walsh (The Tumbling Girl), Kate Griffin (Fynshade) and Fiona Veitch Smith (The Picture House Murders). Blonde head at the front unknown!

It was an honour to be invited to the 2023 Newcastle Noir crime writing festival held at Newcastle Central Library and hosted by the tireless Jacky Collins (Dr Noir) and her team. I was on an historical crime panel called ‘As Darkness Falls’ which discussed sex, power and feminism in historical crime novels. Hosted by Fiona Erskine (The Chemical Detective), we were joined by the gothic historical crime novelists Bridget Walsh (The Tumbling Girl) and Kate Griffin (Fynshade).

And then after that we all had Greggs mince pies! (You have to when you’re in Newcastle, don’t you? Well, I have to, as my husband, Rodney Smith, works at Greggs!). Happy Christmas to you all!

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Reporter Sleuths & Crime Fiction online event

Join me in conversation with Warwickshire Libraries, Newcastle Libraries and the British Library on Tuesday, 8 March at 7.30pm

From the event website:

Warwickshire Libraries, in partnership with Newcastle Libraries and the British Library are thrilled to be hosting a virtual ‘in conversation’ with crime author, Fiona Veitch Smith.

We will be talking to Fiona, author of the Poppy Denby Investigates series, about her inspiration in creating the 1920s reporter sleuth and how she has drawn on her own experience working as a journalist and lecturer in journalism.

Fiona will also be sharing her knowledge of some of the formidable women journalists of the early 20th century.

This event is part of the Breaking the News exhibition, a partnership between the British Library, the Living Knowledge Network and public libraries throughout the country, launching in late February.

Warwickshire Libraries and Newcastle Libraries are both part of The Living Knowledge Network and will be hosting a display of exhibition panels in their libraries from the end of February.

You can view an archive of previously screened events at living-knowledge-network.co.uk

Tickets are FREE but you need to register here.

Fiona Veitch Smith was shortlisted for the CWA Historical Dagger for her book The Jazz Files.

 

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Crime Writer’s Week

I’m going to be joining a stellar line-up of crime writers, publishers and agents in the Pro-Writing Aid Crime Writer’s Week on 19 – 23 April. Alongside the likes of Peter James, Leigh Russell, Karin Slaughter and Ian Rankin, I’ll be sharing my experience of crime writing in a session on research for historical mysteries. I will be looking at how to create an authentic historical word. Do join me at 3pm (UK time) on Wednesday 21st April for a totally FREE session. And of course, dip in and out of any and all of the other talks and workshops taking place that week. Visit www.prowritingaid.com/crimeweek to sign up. Full details below.

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Poppy Denby meets Dr Noir

Last night I had the privilege of having a consultation with the incomparable Dr Noir (the founder of Newcastle Noir) talking about my Poppy Denby books, and in particular, The Art Fiasco, set at the Laing Art Gallery in Newcastle. The conversation ranged from my great grandfather’s murder, the importance of women’s voices in my books, to where to find loos on 1920s cruise ships. And all over a lovely glass of champers! Here’s a direct link to the video with Dr Noir ..

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