Stephen Booth was born in Burnley and grew up in Blackpool. After teacher training in Manchester and a career in local newspapers which started in Wilmslow, Cheshire, he launched his best-selling Cooper and Fry series in 2000. His two Derbyshire police detectives, Ben Cooper and Diane Fry, have so far appeared in 17 novels set in and around the Peak District. Stephen’s books have won awards on both sides of the Atlantic, are translated into 16 languages, and have been optioned for TV.

www.stephen-booth.com

Crime fiction

Seventeen published novels in the Cooper and Fry series, with number 18 ‘Fall Down Dead’ due in 2018, featuring the history of the Kinder Mass Trespass. Plus one Ben Cooper novella and a standalone crime novel ‘Top Hard’, set in mining communities of the 1990s. Eighteen years doing author events in UK libraries, including roles as a Library Ambassador and a Reading Champion. Speaker on libraries and literacy at the 2016 Rotary District Conference. Appearances at many festivals in the UK and around the world, including the USA, Canada, Australia and Finland. Talks for organisations such as WIs, U3As, luncheon clubs, Rotary, etc. Keynote speaker for the Writers’ Conference and Swanwick Writers’ Summer School. Visits to book groups, VIP readers’ groups, bookshops and prisons. Many guest appearances on local radio and TV. Judge for writing competitions

Crime writing courses for Writing School East Midlands. Workshops for festivals and writing groups, including the National Association of Writers’ Groups’ annual festival. One-to-one feedback at the Writers’ Conference. Talks to students on college and university creative writing courses.

“Thank you so much for a most wonderful afternoon. All of our guests were enthralled by you, loved your talk and I think loved you even more! I know the answer & question part could have gone on all afternoon, you were so relaxed and easy with us. Many thanks for giving up your time, which I know is very precious, and entertaining us in a delightful way.” – Wheatley Book Group “I just wanted to say a huge thank you for speaking at The Writers? Conference. Many people found the conference to be incredibly useful, informative and inspirational, and that is in large testament to yourself as a speaker and your fantastic contribution to the day.” – Co-ordinator, The Writers’ Conference, Nottingham “Thank you so much for coming along last night – your love of writing and reading shone through and we had nothing but positive feedback from everyone.” – Alsager Library, Cheshire “On behalf of all of us here, I would like to thank you again for giving us such an entertaining evening. I have had innumerable e-mails thanking us for organising the evening and saying what an entertaining speaker you were and why didn’t you talk longer! I have also spoken to others who are now converts to you writing.” -Coleby Rotary Club, Lincolnshire “It was lovely to meet you and thank you so much for coming. It was a great evening and we have had a lot of positive feedback already! I write and I have been inspired by your talk to work harder and aim to get my writing finished.” – Rotherham Libraries “Just wanted to say thank you so very much again for last night’s event. I have had so much great feedback last night and today, even asking when you would come back!” – Haxby Library, York “The course delivered exactly what I needed to put some impetus behind my own endeavours. I was particularly impressed with your patience in dealing with contributions from the group and unselfish willingness to share your experience.” – Crime writing course participant “The festival has been a success and that was made possible by your involvement. We look forward to working with you as Library Ambassador in the future.”- Head of Libraries and Culture, Doncaster “Many, many thanks for your delightful talk at our U3A AGM. I was watching some of the faces and listening to comments before and after and you certainly had more than a few fans!” – Hope Valley U3A “Thank you for your visit to Poynton Library – we all enjoyed the event and had lots of very positive comments from the audience. We particularly liked your manner of talking and you obviously had a good rapport with the audience!” – Poynton Library, Cheshire “Just to say thank you for being part of the live broadcast yesterday at the shop, we have had great feedback from many of our customers already, you’ve certainly got their attention! It’s always a pleasure to have you here.” – Reading Matters, Chapel-en-le-Frith “I never expected an evening about crime fiction would be so funny!” – A reader

30+

Generally adult, though the Cooper and Fry novels attract young readers.

English

Based in Nottinghamshire, but will travel throughout the country.