J.K. Rowling revealed new details about her Cormoran Strike crime series, under the pen name Robert Galbraith, while at the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival.
At the festival, which serves as Rowling’s only public appearance as Galbraith for The Silkworm‘s release, the author talked about the future of the already very successful series.
Rowling has more than seven Cormoran Strike novels planned, meaning it will run longer than the Harry Potter series, reports the Crime Vault. She also says she is halfway done writing the third novel, which will reportedly focus on “the experience of returning soldiers.” Rowling also has the fourth novel already planned out.
The author showed up to the festival in a full jacket, shirt, and tie, proving that she can look good in just about anything. You can read the full press release below.
Press Release
Robert Galbraith in Sell-out Exclusive UK Appearance
J.K. Rowling writing as Robert Galbraith appeared exclusively at the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival tonight at 18 July in Harrogate, in conversation with fellow crime writer, Val McDermid.
The event marked J.K. Rowling’s first and only UK appearance this year as Robert Galbraith. It was the fastest selling event in Harrogate International Festival’s 50-year history with a sell-out 978-strong audience. Demand for tickets came from all over the world and sold out in just 90 minutes with some fans camping overnight for tickets. A live streaming room was created at the Festival’s hotel partner, the Old Swan Hotel, to accommodate the unprecedented demand.
Rowling was on stage to talk about her second crime novel - The Silkworm - featuring the compelling detective, Cormoran Strike. Published last month, the book went straight to the top of the Sunday Times bestseller list and has received huge critical acclaim. Val McDermid previously said of the first book, before the true identity of Robert Galbraith was revealed, “The Cuckoo's Calling reminds me why I fell in love with crime fiction in the first place.”
J.K. Rowling said: “I'm thrilled to have appeared at the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival for many reasons, foremost of which is to have shared a stage with a true master of the genre, Val McDermid. It is a particularly fitting venue for Robert's first appearance because part of The Silkworm is set in Harrogate and its environs.”
The Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, which was established in 2003 by Val McDermid and Harrogate International Festivals, has grown into the world’s biggest celebration of the crime genre. It is ranked as one of the top three literary festivals in the UK by The Guardian, and featured in The Independent’s ‘The 50 Best Festivals’.
Val McDermid said: “It's always been part of our aim at the festival to bring new writers to the attention of the reading public -- even when they turn out to be not quite as new as we thought! It was a real treat to share the stage with Jo and I think the audience enjoyed the experience as much as I did.”
Simon Theakston, Executive Director of T&R Theakston, said: “It is a mark of the dedication and hard work of the Harrogate International Festivals and the constant support of several world renowned authors including Val McDermid and Mark Billingham that our crime writing festival has reached the status sufficient to attract world renowned authors such as J.K. Rowling/Robert Galbraith. We remain delighted to be the headline sponsor of the festival and to be associated with its growing success.”
Other Special Guests at the Festival include Lynda La Plante, Ann Cleeves, Mark Billingham, Sophie Hannah, SJ Watson, Belinda Bauer, Laura Lippman, John Harvey, Peter May and Denise Mina.
For further media enquiries about Harrogate International Festivals or the Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, please contact Ann on 07534892715 or ann@causeuk.com
J.K. Rowling is not available for interview, but for queries about The Silkworm, please contact Tamsin Kitson at Little Brown Book Group:tamsin.kitson@littlebrown.co.uk
When novelist Owen Quine goes missing, his wife calls in private detective Cormoran Strike. At first, she just thinks he has gone off by himself for a few days - as he has done before - and she wants Strike to find him and bring him home.
But as Strike investigates, it becomes clear that there is more to Quine's disappearance than his wife realises. The novelist has just completed a manuscript featuring poisonous pen-portraits of almost everyone he knows. If the novel were published it would ruin lives - so there are a lot of people who might want to silence him.
And when Quine is found brutally murdered in bizarre circumstances, it becomes a race against time to understand the motivation of a ruthless killer, a killer unlike any he has encountered before...
A compulsively readable crime novel with twists at every turn, The Silkworm is the second in the highly acclaimed series featuring Cormoran Strike and his determined young assistant Robin Ellacott.
‘Terrific narrative pace… this almost preposterously compulsive page-turner
is irresistible summer reading’
‘Strike’s innate humanity, his dislike of unfair play, his unshowy eccentricity and his idiosyncratic charm make him a hero of our times… [Rowling/Galbraith] is one of the modern mistresses of crime writing’
‘A damn good read… a book to gulp down’ 5 stars
‘A pacey detective story… compelling… moreish’
‘The novel teems with sly humour, witty asides and intelligence... a pleasure to read’
‘An atmospheric, propulsive narrative… taut and believable’
‘Pacey, unputdownable… I can’t wait for the next one’ 5 stars
‘Crammed with memorable characters that make irresistible reading’
‘A superb and polished thriller’
Sunday Mirror
‘Deliciously wicked descriptions and dialogue… profound insights too’ 5 stars
‘Even more beguiling than its predecessor’
Robert Galbraith is a pseudonym for J.K. Rowling, bestselling author of the Harry Potter series and The Casual Vacancy. The Silkworm is the second book in the highly acclaimed Cormoran Strike crime fiction series. The first novel in the series, The Cuckoo’s Calling, was published in 2013.
The Theakstons Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival is Europe’s largest event dedicated to the celebration of crime fiction. Taking place annually over four days each July (this year: 17-20 July), the Festival programmes over 80 best-selling UK and international crime authors and over 20 events. It is organised and promoted by the north of England’s leading arts festival organisation, Harrogate International Festivals. Ranked in the top three literary festivals in the UK by The Guardian, it is also featured in the Independent ‘50 Best Festivals’.
This first ever Festival was in 2003; the Awards are now in their tenth year.
Title sponsor of the Festival since 2005, Theakstons Old Peculier ale is produced by T & R Theakston Ltd. It is one of the country’s most famous and highly regarded traditional ale brewers. Theakstons was established in Masham, North Yorkshire in 1827 by Robert Theakston. After a brief period in the 1980s when the company was acquired by Scottish & Newcastle plc, the company has been back under family ownership since autumn 2003. It now operates as an independent family brewer producing a range of renowned cask and bottled ales including the iconic Old Peculier – its best-known beer with a rich, dark flavour, celebrated by ale enthusiasts all over Britain and around the world. Theakstons Old Peculier is available in the United States and 20 countries across the world.
We’re quite excited to hear that Rowling is very committed to her new crime series, promising readers even more new and exciting cases for Strike to try and solve. The soldier-focused subject of the third novel isn’t too surprising, and it should bring an interesting connection to Strike’s own backstory.
What do you think of the Cormoran Strike news? How many books do you think she might end up writing?
