Forthcoming Events (Autumn 2026)
September 26: The Word Is Murder.
3.30 PM. National Centre For The Written Word, South Shields, NE33 1JF.
https://theworduk.org/whats-on/bay-tales-presents-fiction-festival/?fbclid=IwY2xjawUjT3VleHRuA2FlbQIxMABwZG9mAWJyaWQRMUNSRnA1WW01WVl5eUp5WFhzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeKiYmnxznA6aSpu2RLVYJCcHoh2rDAYFzhy6029sI5nN9Zpeu3qYK942t9M4_aem_hSNh5REVL_vt_khUMMNzXg
October 2: Lincoln Book Festival.
7.30 PM. Lincoln Arts Centre, University of Lincoln, Brayford Pool, Lincoln LN6 7TS.
https://lincolnartscentre.co.uk/event/the-shadow-step-mark-billingham/?fbclid=IwY2xjawUjT8FleHRuA2FlbQIxMABwZG9mAWJyaWQRMUNSRnA1WW01WVl5eUp5WFhzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEemdk6by5FNyYyEVZVOjAHvLZa5CYPHRB5yUcN7pFgaMuOwpNF5lzvo7QsAik_aem_S8KOe9NYgMtY-E_Ynz71gQ
October 3: East Riding Festival Of Words.
3.30 PM. Toll Gavel Church, 27 Toll Gavel, Beverley, HU17 9AA.
https://www.eastridinglibraries.co.uk/whats-on/events/?entry=the_shadow_step_mark_billingham&instance=2026100315300000&fbclid=IwY2xjawUjUAdleHRuA2FlbQIxMABwZG9mAWJyaWQRMUNSRnA1WW01WVl5eUp5WFhzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeKiYmnxznA6aSpu2RLVYJCcHoh2rDAYFzhy6029sI5nN9Zpeu3qYK942t9M4_aem_hSNh5REVL_vt_khUMMNzXg
October 16: Cheltenham Literary Festival.
2.00 PM. The Hive. 8.30 PM. The Cunard Stage, Cheltenham Town Hall.
https://www.cheltenhamfestivals.org/whats-on?query=Billingham
October 25: Sandwell Literature Festival.
Central Library, 316, High St, West Bromwich, B70 8DZ.
7.00 PM. With Luca Veste.
https://visitbirmingham.com/event/sandwell-literature-festival-crime-day/188053101/
November 6: Murder At The Abbey, Pershore.
Number 8, 8 High Street, Pershore, WR10 1BG
7.30 PM. With Luca Veste.
https://www.visitpershore.co.uk/council_events/murder-at-the-abbey-2-i-love-the-smell-of-pershore-in-the-morning-at-number-8-pershore/
November 12-15: Venice Noir.
November 19: Whitby Litfest.
Whitby Pavilion, West Cliff, Whitby, YO21 3EN
5.oo PM. With Luca Veste.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/a-deadly-dance-tickets-1998636260858
News
September 2026.
After a bumper year in 2025 (my 25th as a published writer) this year has been no less busy. The paperback of my 25th novel – WHAT THE NIGHT BRINGS – was swiftly followed by the third Declan Miller book – THE SHADOW STEP. It was a treat returning to the strange world of Declan Miller and I really hope you enjoy his third outing. For anyone who’s yet to encounter him, I need to tell you that there are…jokes! Sorry/not sorry.
I’ve been travelling hither and yon to shamelessly pimp the new book with plenty of bookshop, library and festival events in England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales. At the same time, the Fun Lovin’ Crime Writers took to the road again! Yes, that’s the rawking beat combo featuring myself, Val McDermid, Luca Veste, Doug Johnstone, Stuart Neville and Chris Brookmyre and, after our enforced absence (due to a bizarre injury to the lead guitarist), we were fired up and ready to murder more songs for fun. We played a storming show in Liverpool and then returned to our spiritual birthplace – the Edinburgh Book Festival – to play in the Spiegeltent, nine years on from when we played our first ever show in the same venue. Should they invite us back to celebrate our tenth anniversary, I can confidently state that we’ll snap their bloody hands off, but I can tell you that, because of that special anniversary there are already some big shows in the 2027 diary. If you haven’t seen us and should you fancy a glimpse of us taking on an Elvis Costello classic, there is footage of us performing on a TV show on the SHOWING OFF page of this very website.
The year kicked off with some very pleasing news. I was thrilled and delighted to hear that the Crime Writers’ Association had chosen to award me the 2026 Diamond Dagger. This is their most prestigious award for ‘a lifetime contribution to crime writing’. Blimey! If it was a subtle hint that I should bugger off and give someone else a chance, it’s one I’ve chosen to ignore. There’s plenty of gas left in the tank. Seriously, I’m honoured to be joining a select list that includes the likes of PD James, John Le Carre, Colin Dexter, Ian Rankin, Val McDermid, Lee Child, Michael Connelly, Elmore Leonard and Mick Herron. The award was presented to me on July 2. That also happened to be the day THE SHADOW STEP was published. Oh and it’s also my birthday. I had a drink or three that night…
I have a few more festivals at which to show off between now and the end of the year and I’m currently putting the finishing touches to next year’s book. This one’s a standalone thriller and, though these things can change, it’s currently called I AM NOBODY. More news anon…
I hope to see some of you at a book event or a band show somewhere soon, but in the meantime social media remains the easiest way to make contact if you want to say hello or just shout at me about something.
X: @MarkBillingham
FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/MarkBillinghamAuthor
As ever, you can email me through this website at: mail@markbillingham.com
Stay well and happy reading…