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Crossing the Tees - 2021

2021 was a hugely successful year for the festival. We had 13 events in 10 days, all held online via Zoom. Thank you to everyone who tuned in!

Here were some of our 2021 highlights:

Tim Smedley - Clearing the Air

Award-winning environmental journalist Tim Smedley discussed his book Clearing the Air: The Beginning and the End of Air Pollution. Tim travelled the world to understand what air pollution is, where it’s coming from and, most importantly, what we can do about it.

Read Regional: Exploring Poetry Workshop and Hafsah Aneela Bashir

Linda France led the first hour of this session exploring contemporary poetry in a relaxed and informal workshop. Then, Manchester based poet Hafsah Aneela Bashir read from The Celox and the Clot ,a collection of tender, poignant and fierce poems, examining our human condition and the conflicts that arise within us.

Midnight at Malabar House with Vaseem Khan

Bestselling crime fiction author Vaseem Khan took readers on a journey from the days of the Raj to the heart of modern India, a colourful and conflicted environment of vast new wealth and historical problems.

Read Regional Poetry Reading with Keith Hutson

Former Coronation Street writer Keith Hutson introduced his debut collection Baldwin's Catholic Geese. The poems look at life and death through the lens of both legendary and obscure music hall and variety performers from the 1800s to today.

Murder and Flat Caps

The Boss had the cops on his trail, a mole in the camp and a body in the cellar. The only way out was to figure out whodunnit.

Tea and Chat with Nancy Revell

Readers were invited to grab a cuppa and join Nancy Revell for an afternoon of chat about the tenth installment of the bestselling Shipyard Girls!

Out of This World Fantasy Author Panel

GX Todd and Claire North discussed their work and the fantasy genre.

The Perfect Crime Author Panel

Dr Noir (aka Dr Jacky Collins) chaired this exciting crime panel featuring William Shaw, Trevor Wood and Nell Pattison.

View this years listings and book online

Crossing the Tees 2021 Short Story Competition

We were thrilled to receive so many entries for the 2021 Short Story Competition. The winners were announced at the a celebratory event on 26th April.

Crossing the Tees Short Story Competition 2021 Winner

Grace Notes by Gwenda Major

Second Place

Thinking too much by Martyn Greenwood

Third Place

Manhole 1995 by Ann Ridley

Highly Commended

The Robin by Sarah Benjamin

The last train by Hazel Storr

Thanks to everyone who took part and those who made the shortlist.