May 18, 2012 Ian Rankin opens First Fictions festival with exclusive reading of unpublished novel
By Elizabeth Hughes
The UK’s number one crime writer, Ian Rankin, is the headline author appearing at the debut First Fictions book festival this weekend (20 – 22 January 2012).
The literary festival offers an exciting series of events designed to celebrate first novels, past and present.
Rankin, creator of the bestselling Rebus novels, will talk about the start of his writing career when he spent three years writing novels instead of working towards a PhD in Scottish Literature.
His first novel was very different from the crime fiction he has become known for.
Summer Rites was written in 1983 and is a black comedy featuring a one-legged schizophrenic librarian. Rankin’s mother says that it is her favourite book of all his work and yet it remains unpublished.
In a world exclusive, Ian Rankin will read extracts from Summer Rites on Friday evening and Lesley Thomson, author of People’s Book Prize winner A Kind of Vanishing, will interview the popular Scottish writer about his life, work and his early fiction.
First Fictions Festival takes place at the University of Sussex from Friday 20 until Sunday 22 January and the weekend offers talks and discussions featuring best-selling authors, literary critics, publishers and academics.
If Ian Rankin inspires you to try writing yourself, you could join one of a series of workshops on topics including publishing a first novel, the role of autobiography and sex in fiction.
All events are taking place at the Fulton Building on the University of Sussex campus.
For information about events, how to buy tickets, and how to get there visit the First Fictions website.
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