Ben Aaronivitch – Live!

Sunday Times best-selling author, Ben Aaronovitch, gave us such a relaxed, humorous evening of chat about writing and books, that it felt more like being down the pub with a fascinating, witty friend than an author’s book launch. All the more so, as Ben very generously bought the entire audience and volunteers a round from the bar.

Ben said the audience questions were so good, he can’t wait to return with the next in his Rivers of London series! That would make it his fourth visit to us – and we can’t wait either!

After a sci-fi apprenticeship writing for Doctor Who, Aaronovitch wrote the PC Peter Grant series, which began with Rivers of London in 2011. Fusing multiple genres, including comedy, the books introduce the eponymous cop – who also happens to be an apprentice wizard.

Ben said ‘I don’t like the term “genre”,’ and then quipped that when it comes to sensitivity readers ‘I write in a despised genre, so nobody cares.’

The series has grown to include novellas and graphic novels and has a cult global following. A secret world lies underneath this great city…

Every book in the Rivers of London series has been a Sunday Times Top Ten bestseller. Ben is published in 14 languages and has sold more than 2 million copies around the world. He is also a trustee on the board of Cityread London.

After talking with the audience for over an hour, Ben signed copies of his titles, including his latest novella, Winter’s Gifts.

Words and library images: Stephanie Schonfield