Round-up of Week Three

Thanks again to all our wonderful contributors.

On Monday, 18 June, we kicked off with ‘A personal memory: The Friday Walkers’ from Jane Holmes, a good friend of the late Reginald Hill, who shared her strong and beloved memories with readers.  Then on Tuesday, Natasha Cooper recalled the great Reginald Hill with her own personal memory.  Jake Kerridge took us down memory lane for a younger reader on Wednesday, where, with his ‘Book Review and Tribute: Bones and Silence’ we heard how Hill had impressed the young Jake in his formative reading years.  The impact was so big that Jake is the well-known the crime fiction reviewer at the Daily Telegraph. 

Round-Up of Week Two

Thanks to everyone who has contributed this week to our continuing celebration of Reginald Hill’s life and work. We’re getting such a rich set of perspectives from friends, fellow authors and fans alike. Thanks also to those who’ve taken the time to comment. We truly appreciate your input.

We started off the week with a marvellous personal perspective from noted author Andrew Taylor. Taylor shared his memories of meeting Hill and getting to know his work. Later Hill became a mentor when Taylor began his own writing career and in his tribute, Taylor shared his appreciation for Hill’s kindness, humour and of course, his company. Of Hill’s work, Taylor said,

“The books spoke, and speak, for themselves. They are like the man: witty, generous and unfailingly intelligent.”

Taylor closed his article with a wonderful anecdote of his last visit with Hill.

Next we were treated to a lovely tribute to Hill and a discussion of The Woodcutter by author and reviewer Jessica Mann. Mann found herself “bowled over” by The Woodcutter and could “hear Reginald Hill’s voice” in the novel. To her, The Woodcutter

“…is still in the thriller genre, containing crimes, clever clues and eventual revelation, but it’s much more than that.” 

Mann’s long friendship with Hill and her respect for him is evident in her tribute.

Round-up of Week One

Thanks to all our contributors during the first week and to those with whom we have corresponded.  We have been contacted by a number of generous and thoughtful people offering articles which we have been more than happy to accommodate here.  Also, HarperCollins have come up trumps with prizes for our planned competitions – some exceptionally super ones – and Reginald Hill’s editor, Julia Wisdom has delivered her personal piece for the site.  (We promise you that tears will come into your eyes.)  At the bottom of this page you will find pictures of Reg Hill’s HarperCollins covers as they changed over the years.  Our thanks to Emad Akhtar of HarperCollins for his boundless enthusiasm and sterling work!

Within that correspondence it’s been fabulous to hear from two of Reg Hill’s old friends.  We posted up Iwan Morelius’s personal tribute in week one and another from Jane Holmes will come soon.  Jane was one of a weekly walking group and she has kindly shared with us a picture as well as stories of walks, animal companions, games played and the entertainment of words.