I’ve been busy finishing The Scent of Death, the new David Hunter novel, this year, and to be honest haven’t been getting out much. So, in November it was a treat to make a flying visit to Kamen in the Ruhr region of Germany, to give a reading as part of Mord am Hellweg Europe’s biggest crime festival.
The success of the David Hunter novels in Germany has meant I’ve been lucky enough to have done quite a few readings over there. It’s always a genuine pleasure, and this was no exception. Mord am Hellweg is a great festival, and I’ve worked with both the moderator, Günter Keil, and the German actor, Joe Bausch, several times in the past.
German readings are very different to those in the UK. I don’t speak German, so not only does the moderator have to translate, but the readings themselves are performed by a professional actor. The first few times I went over, it felt strange to sit on stage and listen to my work being read out in a language I didn’t understand. But I’ve grown more accustomed to it by now, and enjoy hearing different actor’s interpretations of my characters.
Industrial action at Dusseldorf airport and gridlocked traffic meant I had to go straight to the venue at Kamen Town Hall but, transport glitches aside, it was a great evening. The event was a sell-out, with 800 people braving foul weather to listen to a retrospective of the first five Hunter novels, as well as a sneak preview of The Scent of Death.
Thanks to Mord am Hellweg, Günter, Joe, the booksellers, and everyone who turned out. And a special thanks to the reader who travelled 200 km to be there. I’m glad I made it on time…