08:45 Doors Open
Playhouse Whitley Bay will open their doors for the 2025 show to give you around thirty minutes to browse our independent festival bookstore’s brilliant display of books, grab a coffee and visit the Bay Tales merchandise store – or just to get to your seat early and make yourself comfortable!
09:25 – 09:30
Welcome and Introduction
Festival organiser, Vic Watson, will give you a quick introduction to the day’s events.
09:30 – 10:30
Patron’s Pick: Ann Cleeves in Conversation with William Shaw
Ann Cleeves, OBE
Our patron, Ann Cleeves, is the international bestselling author of the Vera, Shetland and Two Rivers series. Ann was chosen as the 2017 recipient of the Cartier Diamond Dagger from the Crime Writers’ Association for “sustained excellence” in crime fiction. In addition to her many accolades for writing, Ann’s commitment to public libraries was recognised in 2024 when she was presented with the first Public Library Champion award at the Libraries Connected 2024 Awards Ceremony. Her latest Vera novel, The Dark Wives, is out now.
William Shaw
Ann’s special guest for 2025, William Shaw, writes the DS Alexandra Cupidi books, set in Dungeness. The Wild Swimmers, published in 2024, is the fifth in the series. Writing as G. W. Shaw, William also writes gripping adventure thrillers. Before becoming a crime writer, William was an award-winning music journalist and the author of several non-fiction books. William has been longlisted three times for the Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year and shortlisted for the CWA Historical Dagger, the Barry Award, The CWA Golden Dagger and the Golden Bullet.
Moderated by Tim Rideout
We’re thrilled to welcome Tim back to the Bay Tales stage after a brilliant debut alongside Ann Cleeves and Emma Flint in 2024. Embodying the Bay Tales spirit of kindness, and a love of crime fiction, it’s easy to see why Tim is a favourite among authors and festivals alike.
10:30 – 11:30
Break and Book Signing
Ann and William will be available to sign copies of their books at our signing table on the first floor. You can also use this opportunity to grab refreshments, enter our charity raffle and pick up your 2025 Bay Tales tote bag (while stocks last!).
11:00 – 12:00
Viper Books Panel: The Law in their Hands
Janice Hallett
Janice Hallett is a former magazine editor, award-winning journalist, and government communications writer. She wrote articles and speeches for, among others, the Cabinet Office, Home Office, and Department for International Development.
Janice’s debut, The Appeal, was awarded the CWA Debut Dagger for 2021 and was a Sunday Times Bestseller, Waterstones’ Thriller of the Month and Sunday Times Crime Book of the Month. Janice’s subsequent books – The Twyford Code, The Mysterious Case of the Alperton Angels and The Christmas Appeal – have bagged her awards from the Financial Times and British Book Awards as well as being Times and Sunday Times Bestsellers and appearing as a Richard & Judy Book Club Pick.
Guy Morpuss
Guy Morpuss writes speculative crime fiction. His first novel, Five Minds, is about five people sharing one body, one of whom is trying to murder the others. It was a Financial Times Book of the Year. Guy’s second novel, Black Lake Manor, is a locked room murder mystery set on Vancouver Island, with a killer who can unwind time. It was a Financial Times SF Book of the Month and a Waterstones Best Crime Book of 2022. Before taking up full-time writing, Guy practised as a QC in London, dealing with cases featuring drug-taking cyclists, dead Formula 1 champions and aspiring cemetery owners.
Oskar Jensen
Oskar Jensen is an historian and writer. His first detective novel – Helle & Death – was published by Viper in January 2024. Oskar was a BBC New Generation Thinker for 2022. An occasional writer for the New Statesman, Oskar frequently appears on the BBC and RTÉ. He was also the historical advisor for the 2018 ITV/Amazon production of Vanity Fair.
Tariq Ashkanani
Tariq Ashkanani is a solicitor based in Edinburgh, who loves dark fiction and putting his characters through absolute hell. His debut novel, Welcome to Cooper, was shortlisted for the CWA New Blood Dagger and won the Bloody Scotland Debut award. Tariq also helps run Write Gear, a company that makes high-quality bespoke notebooks for writers. Tariq co-hosts Write Gear’s podcast, Page One.
Moderated by Emma Flint
After her appearance as 2024’s Patron’s Pick. Emma’s novel Other Women sold out at our on-site bookstore. Describing the Bay Tales audience as “a joy”, we know you’ll be as delighted to welcome Emma back to Whitley as we are!
12:00 – 12:30
Break and Book signing
Janice, Oskar, Guy and Tariq will be available to sign copies of their books. You could also use the break to pick up some merch (if there’s any left!) or to enter our charity raffle, proceeds of which will be donated to The Bay Foodbank.
12:30 – 13:30
Pan Macmillan Panel
Sarah Hilary
Sarah Hilary won the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year with her debut novel, Someone Else’s Skin. It was also a World Book Night selection and a Richard & Judy Book Club pick. Sarah’s short stories have won the Cheshire Prize for Literature, the Fish Criminally Short Histories Prize, and the SENSE prize. Sarah is the programming chair for St Hilda’s Crime Fiction Weekend in Oxford as well as co-founder of Ledburied, a crime festival in Ledbury. In addition to writing captivating stories, Sarah teaches crime fiction and mentors up-and-coming writers.
Tracy Whitwell
Tracy Whitwell was born, brought up and educated in Gateshead in the North East. After many years messing about in front of the camera as an actress, Tracy realised her true love was writing. Her first novel, The Accidental Medium is the first in a series of crime / horror / comedy tales about an alcohol-soaked, gobby, thrill-seeking actress who talks to ghosts.
Ellery Lloyd
Ellery Lloyd is the pseudonym for New York Times bestselling husband-and-wife writing team Collette Lyons and Paul Vlitos.
Collette is a journalist and editor, the former content director of Elle (UK) and editorial director at Soho House. She has written for The Guardian, The Telegraph, and the Sunday Times.
Paul is the author of two previous novels, Welcome to the Working Week and Every Day is Like Sunday. He is the program director for Professor of Creative Writing at the University of Greenwich.
Moderated by Steph McGovern
Award-winning journalist and broadcaster Steph McGovern is the co-host of the podcast The Rest is Money alongside Robert Peston. Steph is the patron of The Bay Foodbank, our nominated charity. Her debut novel, Deadline, is due to be released in July 2025. Following her brilliant interview with Val McDermid at 2024’s Bay Tales, we’re delighted to welcome Steph back.
13:30 – 14:45
Lunch Break and Book Signings
As well as giving you time to get your books signed by Sarah and Tracy, we’ve allocated seventy-five minutes for our lunch break to give you the chance to get out and stretch your legs in Whitley. Be sure to check out which local establishments are offering deals to Bay Tales ticket holders. Our friends from Cullercoats RNLI will be in the foyer to chat with you about the work they do and how you can help.
*Please note, this will be your final opportunity to buy raffle tickets.*
14:45 – 15:45
Orion Panel: The Business of Murder
A hostage negotiator, clinical psychologist, a probation officer and a barrister walk into a bar… Four crime writers share how their day jobs have inspired their award-winning tales of malice, mayhem and murder. In conversation will be a former probation officer, a police, military and NATO psychologist, a former police negotiator and a human rights lawyer. They will explore emotional responses in tragedy, moral choices and questions, and how good crime fiction tackles big issues – something at the heart of all of their novels.
Emma Kavanagh
Dr Emma Kavanagh is the author of six mystery and crime/thriller novels including the highly acclaimed Wolf series which includes To Catch a Killer and The Devil You Know. After graduating with a PhD in Psychology from Cardiff University, Emma spent many years working as a police and military psychologist, training firearms officers, command staff and military personnel throughout the UK and Europe.
John Sutherland
John Sutherland’s first novel, The Siege, was published by Orion Fiction in June 2022 and was shortlisted for the Specsavers Debut Crime Novel of the Year. The Fallen, the sequel to The Siege was published by Orion Fiction in June 2023. John joined the Met Police in 1992 and served in a variety of ranks and roles for more than twenty-five years, until his early retirement on medical grounds in 2018.
Mari Hannah
Multi-award winning and bestselling author Mari Hannah is the creator of the Kate Daniels thrillers, the Ryan & O’Neil and the Stone & Oliver series. She lives in a small Northumberland village with her partner, a former murder detective. The rights to the Kate Daniels series have been acquired by Sprout Pictures, Stephen Fry’s production company. Mari’s career as a Probation Officer was cut short following an assault while she was on duty.
Anna Mazzola
Anna Mazzola is the award-winning, bestselling author of five historical crime novels. Anna’s bestselling novel, The Clockwork Girl, was shortlisted for two CWA Dagger awards and a Fingerprint Award, as well as being nominated for the Dublin Literary award. Her fifth novel, The Book of Secrets, is based on a real case from 17th Century Rome and was a Times Historical Novel of the Month. Anna’s first legal/political thriller, Notes on a Drowning, will be published by Orion in January 2025. When not writing, Anna works as a human rights and criminal justice solicitor acting for survivors of crime.
Moderated by Chris McDonald
Chris Mcdonald is the author of the Erika Piper series, the Stonebridge Mysteries and The Killer’s Christmas List (under the pseudonym Chris Frost). A former teacher, Chris is the organiser of Stockport Noir. After stepping into the breach so admirably as a moderator at Bay Tales Live ’24, it’s great to have Chris back with us.
15:45 – 16:15
Break and Book Signing
Mari, John, Emma, Anna and Chris will be available to sign copies of their books. The bookshop will, of course, still be open as will our merch stand. Email Us for Enquiries and to Buy Your Tickets
16:15 – 16:30
Raffle Draw
With goodies provided by authors, publishers and local businesses, we’re confident we’ll raise plenty of money for our chosen charity: The Bay Foodbank. Last year’s raffle raised over £1,600, can we beat that total this year? Buy tickets for the raffle throughout the day (ticket selling ends at 2:45pm) and be in with a chance of winning one of our fantastic prizes.
16:30 – 17:30
2025’s Special Guests: Mark Billingham & C.L. Taylor
Mark Billingham
Mark Billingham’s debut novel, Sleepyhead, was an instant bestseller. A series featuring detective Tom Thorne followed with Billingham being nominated for the CWA Gold Dagger twice, shortlisted for Crime Thriller of the Year at the 2006 British Book Awards and winning the Theakstons Old Peculier Award for Crime Novel of the Year for Lazybones in 2005 and again in 2009 with Death Message. An acclaimed television series based on the Thorne novels was screened on Sky One in Autumn 2010, starring David Morrissey as Tom Thorne. A series based on the novels In The Dark and Time Of Death was screened on BBC1 in 2017. Mark is also the author of a number of standalones. A new series featuring DS Declan Miller began in 2023 with The Last Dance and continued in 2024 with The Wrong Hands. A regular contributor to radio and TV, Mark is also a member of the Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers, a group of bestselling crime and thriller writers who performed at the Glastonbury Festival in 2019 and 2024.
C.L. Taylor
C.L. Taylor is the nine-times Sunday Times bestselling author of ten standalone psychological thrillers. Her books have sold over two million copies in the UK alone and have been translated into over 30 languages. Selected twice for the Richard and Judy Book Club and optioned for television, Cally has also won multiple awards including Dead Good Books ‘Hidden Depths’ award and a Capital Crime Readers’ Award. In 2021, C.L. Taylor was shortlisted for the CWA Dagger in the Library award.
17:30 – 18:00:
Signing & Raffle Prize Collection
Immediately after the final session, Mark and Cally will be signing copies of their books upstairs while winners can collect their raffle prizes from the merchandise stand on Level 1.
