Mystery at the Writers Festival

Last week it was the Auckland Writers Festival here in New Zealand. And it was a lively event.

As the largest writers festival in the southern hemisphere, Auckland draws in crowds from all around the world. This year’s programme was jam-packed with some major literary titans… Mick Heron, Ian McEwan, Maggie O’Farrell, to name a few.

There were tonnes of great events for children and families too…

Dogman supremo Dav Pilkey was present, as well as some of New Zealand’s finest children’s authors and illustrators… Rachel King,Claire Mabey, Stacy Gregg, Giselle Clarkson, Ruth Paul, Toby Morris…

And as part of the fun, Messy Press’s Erica Harrison and author in crime, Hannah Tunnicliffe set out to crack a new case… live!

Alongside their quick-thinking hound Detective Stanley, from their funny young graphic novel series (Flying Eye Books), they recruited a crowd of eager young sleuths to help solve The Mystery of the Stolen Book Signing Pen.

The case threw up various clues and suspects for Stanley and the team, until bad bunny Ethel Greenstick was finally caught red-pawed with the missing diamond encrusted pen.

The Women’s Bookshop sold out of all copies of Detective Stanley whilst Erica and Hannah were on hand to sign books for young Stanley fans, using just normal pens.

Case closed.