Callie Kazumi and Hannah Beer discuss their debuts at Criminally Good Books

Yesterday I hopped on the train and headed to my favourite independent bookshop, Criminally Good Books in York.

This time they were hosting Callie Kazumi and Hannah Beer to discuss their debut novels with book seller Cat. It was an intimate talk, held within the shop itself. We were greeted with either a glass of wine or posh juice on arrival, then the talk took place downstairs with signings upstairs. Whilst the shop is cosy, this was a really good use of the space to utilise both floors.

The talk itself was really interesting. It was great to hear the inspiration behind both books, a little more about them and also what’s in store for the future! The two worked really well together, it was a great pairing and evening.

I was lucky enough to receive a proof copy of Callie’s Cuckoo last year [read my review here] so it was great to purchase a finished copy to get signed. I Make My Own Fun is new to me and I’m super excited to read it after hearing Hannah talk about it. I wasn’t aware it featured mixed media in the form of Reddit posts etc., I’m super keen to give it a go!

I also loved hearing Callie say that she begins her books with a What If?, as Heidi Perks also said this during Iceland Noir [read my blog and attendee guide about that here]. That really speaks to me as I started a little writing a while back and found it much easier with a prompt. Setting out your own question to answer to me seems like a great way to start a book!

If you are local to York then make sure you check out Criminally Good Books. They give the best recommendations and have some amazing talks coming up. Check out their Instagram to stay up to date with what’s coming up.

Here is a little more about both books below. Don’t they sound great? Both are available to purchase now.

🍸 I Make My Own Fun

She’s the woman who has everything. But she wants more. She wants you…

Everyone knows Marina, the A-list movie star. But very few know Marina, the absolute monster.

Years at the top have proved that whatever Marina wants, she gets. But when she meets bartender Anna, Marina discovers something that can’t be bought: Anna’s affection. As Anna remains unmoved, Marina’s advances become more desperate – and her obsession more dangerous.

The price of fame is heavy – and someone will have to pay for it…

💍 Cuckoo

A story of obsession, love and murder – and not the one you’re expecting. . . Discover a gripping new thriller with a killer twist at its core.

When Claire surprises her fiancé, Noah, at work for their anniversary, she’s the one who ends up being shocked to her core …

Because Noah left the company nine months ago, and she had no idea. How can she not have known?

Now he isn’t answering her calls. He won’t respond to her messages. He’s disappeared.

As Claire desperately tries to find her fiancé, her world begins to shatter as the truth about who Noah really is starts to emerge.

And things are about to spiral dangerously out of control …