The view from the Toronto hotel while I was International Guest of Honour at the Bloody Words Conference – a very big honour!
Yes, I am of course most known for my writing, but I do other things as well!
If you want a guest speaker, for example, I could be the man for you. The delightful Cheryl Freedman – who organised the Bloody Words conference in Toronto in 2014, said:
“Mike was an absolutely delightful and amusing (to say nothing of charismatic) speaker, whether addressing the conference attendees at the closing banquet, participating in a panel, or being interviewed and fielding Q&A from the audience.
“I’ve always been a big fan of Mike’s books, and as chair of Bloody Words XIII, I decided he’d make the perfect international guest of honour.
“I’d invite him back in a flash …
“… what amazed me – although it probably shouldn’t have – was the outpouring of positive feedback from conference attendees who told me Mike was one of their favourite guests of all our Bloody Words guests of honour.“
I am also known for my talks at libraries, after-dinner talks, and a variety of other events:
“Many thanks to Michael for a fab evening – with very positive comments from the 39 people that attended! We had a great time too – hope you eventually got the brittle toffee out of your teeth! Would heartily recommend Michael’s talks to anyone out there. Lots of fun, informal and very informative!”
Rachel Gallehawk, Thurrock Libraries.
I am also proud to be an expert on the Smithsonian Journeys’ Mystery Lover’s England, where I join the guests travelling from Agatha Christie’s Devon, up through the Cotswolds and on to London, talking about fabulous crime and mystery writers past and present.
But in case you think I spend all my time writing and talking about crime and murder – I do other things sometimes. For example, I was invited to be the Grand Marshal of the first parade in the New Orleans Mardi Gras. Yes! I was there in that great event! That’s me slinging beads at people.
But I don’t only throw things at people – I like to throw paint at paper, too.
But most of all, I enjoy writing and sketching with my favourite toys, which tend to be my fountain pens. I have even been honoured by Visconti and Conway Stewart by collaborating on pen designs. Here’s the Conway Stewart Detection Collection pen, the Michael Jecks, when it was first launched:
I’ve been enormously fortunate. I have travelled over America, from Alaska to New York; I’ve been to Canada; Bogota in Colombia; to Piacenza and Brescia in Italy; I’ve been Chair of the Crime Writers’ Association, and now I’m Honorary Secretary of the Detection Club. I’ve been privileged to enjoy thirty years in this rather ridiculous profession, making up stories and – hopefully – entertaining people.
Long may it continue!
