I’ll be talking about Queens of the Underworld at the Bow Street Police Museum – on the very site where Zoe Progl appeared after she escaped from Holloway Prison and was recaptured – on August 13th. Info & tickets here.

I’ll be talking about the history of London’s female criminals at Salon for the City, London’s longest running cultural event, including the infamous Forty Thieves and their successors the Forty Elephants. Info and tickets here.

  I’ll be talking about the history of female sleuths at the Portsmouth Book Festival, via Zoom, on March 5th.  

  The International Agatha Christie Festival 2024 has put together a lovely video of the festival highlights. Watch the video here.  

  I’ll be talking about the history of female private eyes at Medway River Lit, Rochester, Kent on Nov 16th. Tickets are ‘pay what you can.’

  I’ll be teaching a ‘masterclass’ on researching historical crime fiction at Medway River Lit on November 16th, 1pm-2pm, Strood Library, Rochester, Kent, ME2 4TJ. Tickets are ‘pay what you can.’

  I’ll be chatting about the hidden stories of female private detectives at Maidstone LitFest on October 12th, along with Helen Fry, author of Women in Intelligence, in conversation with Jane Shankar.  

  I’ll be talking about the history of female sleuths – from private inquiry agents to private eyes and professional investigators – at the Chelsea History Festival on September 27th at the National Army Museum.    

  I’ll be talking about the history of female sleuths at Warwick Words History Festival on October 2nd.

  I’ll be talking about female sleuths at Broadstairs Lit on June 9th at the Yarrow Hotel. All funds raised will go to Oasis, the Kent charity that supports people affected by domestic abuse.  

  I’ll be talking about the history of real life Miss Marples at the International Agatha Christie Festival on September 14th, in Torquay.  

  I’ll be talking about female sleuths (via Zoom) at Highgate Library, London, on March 19th.  

  I’ll be talking about female sleuths with former investigations reporter Urmee Khan at the London Library on February 29th.  

  I’ll be talking about the history of female sleuths, many of whom operated near Conway Hall in the 19th century, on March 24th, 2024.

  I’ll be teaching a workshop on autofiction at the Margate Bookie’s Write Up!, on May 27th at 12pm. More info and booking here.

  I’ll be talking about Holloway Prison and the history of women in the criminal justice system at the Woman Up Justice conference on March 4th. The conference is hosted by University of Cumbria School of Justice and organised by the voluntary events group Woman Up.  

  I’ll be talking about the history of Thames swimming at the West London Local History Conference on November 26th, a one-day virtual event with the theme ‘Play the Game’.

  I’ll be joining Age UK Camden Book Club as guest author at the British Library on October 26th. The book under discussion this month is Zora Neale Hurston’s Their Eyes Were Watching God, followed by a talk and Q&A on Queens of the Underworld. This is a closed event, but there is more information […]

  I’ll be talking about Queens of the Underworld at Conway Hall, a famed ‘hub for free speech and independent thought’ since the 1880s, as part of its Ethical Matters events held on Sunday afternoons. September 18th, London WC1R.  

I’ll be talking about Queens of the Underworld at Derby Book Festival on May 22nd, Derby College, 11am. More info here  

I’ll be joining a panel at Wild Words Festival, a new literary festival set in a beautiful Hertfordshire field with ‘hot street food and cool camping’.

  The North American Tradeswomen are sending a delegation to London in June, where they will be visiting construction sites and training centres, and supporting plans for a Women’s Building on the site of the former Holloway Prison. I’ll be giving an online talk about the history of Holloway on June 11th, 4pm. Women make […]

  Mudlarking, Criminal Queens, and the deep City: a collection of London stories. March 24th, Amersham Arms, SE14. 7pm-10pm.

  I’ll be talking about Queens of the Underworld at Highgate Library, London N19, on December 9th, 7pm. The event is organised by The Friends of Highgate Library and admission is free.  

  ‘400 Years of Female Rebellion’ is a free online event on December 6th. I’ll be giving an illustrated talk on the lives of rebellious women and female crooks, followed by a discussion from a brilliant panel: Julie Bindel (Co-Founder, Justice for Women), Niki Gibbs (Artist), and Lucy Masoud (Barrister). It will be chaired by […]

  Queens of the Underworld was launched at the Great Scotland Yard Hotel – on the site of the original headquarters of the Metropolitan Police. This is where the Detective Department was based in late Victorian times, and its officers were very familiar with some of the queens – including Emily Lawrence, the diamond thief […]

  I’ll be talking about Queens of the Underworld at Borderlines Carlisle Book Festival on Sunday October 3rd – Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery, CA3 8TP, 10.30-11.30am.      

  I’m excited to be returning to the Hurst to tutor on a residential Tutored Retreat: Fiction course, with Jacob Ross, on November 8th-13th. Working on a novel or a collection of short stories? Fire up your Fiction will provide support and feedback for whatever issues you’re facing with your writing – whether you need […]