Crime Writers of South London in Conversation

Join bestselling and award-winning local crime authors: Nadine Matheson whose debut, The Jigsaw Man (HarperCollins, 2021), has been translated into 15 languages and second novel, The Binding Room, featuring DI Henley and the Serial Crimes Unit was published in July 2022; Adam Simcox whose supernatural crime thriller The Generation Killer (Gollancz, 2022) is part of his debut series, The Dying Squad and Lara Thompson whose debut novel, One Night, New York (Virago, 2021) was shortlisted for The Guardian's 2022 CrimeFest and Specsavers Crime Fiction Debut Awards as they discuss their work, the influence of local places in their writing, their different paths into publishing and building a career as a commercial fiction writer. There will be opportunity to ask questions to all the writers. Hosted by Bobby Nayyar.

Nadine is from South-East London and grew up in Deptford. She is a Criminal Solicitor and lecturer. In 2016, she won the City University Crime Writing Competition and completed the Creative Writing (Crime/Thriller Novels) MA at City University of London with Distinction in 2018.

In 2019, her novel, The Jigsaw Man featuring Detective Henley series, was won by HQ (HarperCollins) in a six-publisher auction. The best-selling Jigsaw Man' was published in 2021, has been translated into 15 languages and has been optioned for television.

Her novels are based in South-East London and Deptford, Greenwich and Lewisham make a regular appearance. Her second novel, The Binding Room, featuring DI Henley and the Serial Crimes Unit was published in 2022 and her third novel in the series, The K*ll List, will be published this year.

Adam is a London-based filmmaker who has shot commercials for brands such as McLaren, Primark and Unilever, and music videos for Britpop veterans as well as fresh on the scene alt-country stars. He began his film career by writing and directing three features: the first sold to Netflix before Netflix was Netflix; the second and third won awards and critical acclaim at festivals worldwide, and so didn’t sell at all.

When he’s not making films he indulges the masochistic pain that is being a Spurs fan, and keeps up his unhealthy vinyl collecting habit. He lives in London with his wife (a fellow writer) and their two young sons.

Lara grew up in Cornwall between the moors and the sea. After completing an MA and PhD in Film at Birkbeck College she worked in various arts institutions and Universities including the ICA and Central Saint Martins. Fascinated by visual and written storytelling from a young age, a few years ago she enrolled on a creative writing course and realised she enjoyed crafting her own worlds in which to escape as much as immersing herself in the fiction of others.

When not writing in her shed or teaching film at Middlesex University, Lara dreams of sitting in darkened film auditoriums by herself and swimming in the sea with friends and family. In reality she is looking for her kids lost things and wondering how to avoid cooking dinner. Lara beat hundreds of applicants to win the Virago/The Pool New Crime Writer Award with the manuscript of her first novel, One Night, New York. She lives in London.

Bobby Nayyar is a programme manager and writer. He started his career in publishing at Faber and Faber, Little, Brown Book Group and founded his own imprint, Limehouse Books. He has also managed Equality in Publishing and Wasafiri Magazine’s digital presence. At Spread the Word he works on the London Writers Awards, Nature Nurtures and regular programme of workshops and events. He has written two novels and a collection of poetry.

• All our in-person events will be BSL Interpreted, including this one.

• This event is wheelchair accessible, with accessible toilets.

• Deptford Lounge has Changing Place facilities, an induction loop and assistance dogs are welcome. For more information: deptfordlounge.org.uk/access

• A quiet space is available during the day at Deptford Lounge, in the Music Room, on the first floor.

• If you require additional access provision in order to attend or take part in the Festival, for example larger print handouts at workshops, or a Scribe, please get in touch before the Festival day at: [email protected]

• If you require assistance on the Festival day itself, please come to the Festival Hub in the foyer of Deptford Lounge where we will be happy to help you.

• The livestream will be live-captioned.

• We encourage anyone displaying Covid-like symptoms not to attend the Festival and we encourage attendees aged 16+ (unless exempt) to consider wearing a mask as some of our artists and audiences may be vulnerable.

• Masks will be available at the Festival Hub in Deptford Lounge. There will be hand sanitiser and air filters for events and workshops in the following spaces at Deptford Lounge: Main Hall, Room 1, Room 2, Room 3 and the Studio.

• You can see the full Deptford Literature Festival COVID-19 protocols here: spreadtheword.org.uk/deptford-literature-festival-covid-19-protocols/

• This event is free to you, and we ask that as far as possible by booking a place you commit to attending, as places are limited. If you can no longer attend, please cancel your ticket so someone else can come along. There are instructions on how to do that here.

• If you would like to support the future of Deptford Literature Festival, run by charity Spread the Word, you can donate here: totalgiving.co.uk/appeal/deptfordlitfest

Deptford Literature Festival takes place on Saturday 18 March 2023 and celebrates the diversity and creativity of Deptford and Lewisham through words, stories and performance. It is run by Spread the Word, and funded by Arts Council England. You can find out more about Deptford Literature Festival at: www.deptfordlitfest.com

Image at the top of the page description: The event image has a light teal green background with black text reading ‘DEPTFORD LITERATURE FESTIVAL’ in a bold font at the top left corner. In the centre are three circular images of the event speakers. The left circular image is of writer Nadine Matheson, a woman who smiles widely. She has dark, curled mid-length hair and wears a forest green coat which is buttoned up with a high collar. Behind her is a textured wall of grey squares separated by blue lines. The middle circular image is of writer Adam Simcox. He has a shaved head and a dark stubble beard, and he looks off to the distance. A bright red light falls across the right side of his face, while a teal green light falls across the left. The background behind him is black. The circular image on the right of the event photo is of writer Lara Thompson, who looks straight ahead. She has wavy long brown hair swept to one side and small gold hoops. She wears a navy denim top with a collar. The background is blurred but contains what appears to be a long cream curtain. At the bottom right of the photo is a text description of the event which reads: Crime Writers of South London in Conversation Saturday 18 March 4 - 5pm @ Deptford Lounge

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Deptford Lounge, 9 Giffin Street, London, United Kingdom