Yesterday, I went to see Katherine Woodfine and Sarah Rubin in the Little Big Top at the Cheltenham Festival. It was an excellent event- really interesting!
Katherine Woodfine is the author of The Mystery of the Clockwork Sparrow (long listed for 2015 NSTBA Quality Fiction- review on bookshelf) and The Mystery of the Jewelled Moth. Set in Sinclair's Department Store, these books introduce us to Sophie and her friends, Lil, Billy and Jo. The books are pacey and exciting, giving us a glimpse of life in Edwardian England.
Alice Jones: The Impossible Clue (long listed for the 2016 NSTBA Moving On category- review on bookshelf), on the other hand, is set in modern America. Maths whizz Alice already has a reputation for cracking mini-mysteries when she has to explain the disappearance of a scientist. Wonderful characters leap off the page and you are kept on edge to the very end!
These two intelligent, skillful authors made an excellent pairing for the event. Sarah spoke of her love of maths and how she sees mysteries as being like maths problems whilst Katherine talked about the historical background to her second story. Each listened carefully to what the other had to say and the conversation flowed beautifully-and passed all too quickly!
Both ladies have new books out soon. Alice Jones will reappear in The Ghost Light and Sophie and Lil will return in The Mystery of the Painted Dragon. I can't wait for them to come out!