Crime fiction king to visit

BEST-selling Australian crime fiction author Chris Hammer is coming to Bendigo to promote his seventh novel, The Valley, and local readers will have the opportunity to hear about his writing journey at an exclusive in-conversation forum at The Capital in View Street.

After working as a journalist for over three decades, Mr Hammer’s first work of fiction, Scrublands (2018), was an instant hit, winning the UK Crime Writers’ Association John Creasey New Blood Dagger.

His fifth book, The Tilt (2022), won The Sunday Times Crime Book of the Year in 2023.

Speaking ahead of his impending visit, Mr Hammer said he feels very lucky in the way his career has unfolded and to be in the privileged position to make a living from his writing.

“So many authors have to hold down a nine-to-five job, and the other side is I’m just addicted to what I’m doing,” he said.

“An additional virtue of having been a traveling journalist, a lot of the time I can write pretty much anywhere. In fact, I suspect I’m more productive on planes and trains, in airports or hotel rooms or cafes.”

He said the upcoming Capital session promises an insight into how books are made, what authors are like and a taste of the stories too.

“Typically we’ll have questions about everything from my writing process, to where I get my ideas from, to observations about the different books and the themes in them,” he said.

“It’s always great fun to meet the readers and it won’t be too ponderous, with a few jokes, stories and anecdotes thrown in as well.”

Chris Hammer, In Conversation with Bookish, takes place at The Capital Theatre on Monday 21 October from 6.30pm. Book a free ticket on the Gotix website.