We planned a number of exciting author and literature events as part of Fringe Week’. We look at three local writers who were set to feature.

NIKI MACKAY

Reigate’s very own ‘Queen of Crime’. Niki is going from strength to strength. In her words..

I am a writer and a bookworm. I studied Performing Arts at the BRIT
School. It turned out I wasn’t very good at acting but quite liked writing
scripts. I went on to take a BA (Hons) in English Literature and Drama. I
later won a full scholarship for an MA in Journalism. My first two novels – ‘I,
Witness’ and ‘The Lies We Tell’ – feature private investigator Madison
Attallee. ‘Found Her’ is my first digital-only release and is a standalone
psychological thriller. I am currently working on a book based on an
unsolved serial killer case due out in paperback December 2020. I am also
co-host of a true crime podcast, Crime Girl Gang.

Niki was scheduled to start off the week with a live podcast hosted by Redhill Library. Her mid-week crime writing workshop was another highlight and one for the aspiring crime fighters.

Jennie Batchelor

From crime to Jane Austen. All the ‘eclecticness’ of the Fringe. Jennie is Professor of 18th Century Studies at the University of Kent. Jennie has written widely on women’s writing, eighteenth-century dress and early women’s magazines. She has appeared on the New Statesman’s Hidden Histories podcast, BBC Radio 4, and was interviewed for Lucy Worsley’s Jane Austen: Behind Closed Doors. Jennie is Patron of the Kent branch of the Jane Austen Society.

Jennie planned to discuss her chance discovery of some presumed lost patterns of Jane Austen and the new book she has written with Alison Larkin, Jane Austen Embroidery (2019). Participants would endeavour to follow one of Jane’s patterns under Jennie’s expert guidance. Reigate Library were to host this event which generated much interest. Jennie we hope to see you in 2021.

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John T. Leonard

Vindicated is the fourth book to be released by Pegasus. His first title. A Life’s Work was in fact his third novel. Fallen Victim (Pictured below) is actually Leonard’s 10th book.

Leonard works full time within the police but hopes, one day to write full time. John was set to speak at the very first Reigate and Banstead Writes Literature Tent which was a new feature at the annual NMF held at Reigate Rugby Club.

A group of local arts initiatives were coming together to put on RH Fringe and celebrate literature and music in particular. Events will now take place 12-19th June 2021.