If crime fiction is your genre, we have a rare double treat for you on Swanwick Tuesday this year. The Derbyshire Police Forensics Team are joining us in the afternoon for a demonstration of all the latest techniques in trapping villains - and in the evening, Simon Hall will be regaling us with stories of his life as a BBC TV Crime Reporter and author of the best selling TV Detective book series.

Simon will be staying with us for most of the week and is running Short Courses on both Wednesday and Thursday.

Better still, you could have a chance for a private 1-to-1 with Simon to discuss any project you are currently working on. These sessions are always immensely popular, so do get your request in quickly. Simon is offering pre-booked 20 minute sessions from Tuesday through to Thursday, with all proceeds going to the School. If you haven't yet sent in your Booking Form, you can select Simon - or any of our other available 1:1 tutors - by ticking the appropriate box(es) on the form and adding the fee to your total.

Even if you have already booked for Swanwick, you can still request one of these special 1:1 sessions. Simply email Lesley on secretary@swanwickwritersschool.org.uk or fill in the online enquiry form on the Contact page.

Come join us for our next #AskSwanwick twitter chat on 5th May, 8pm (UK Time), when you can put questions to Swanwick darling and prolific author Della Galton.

Our Twitter question-and-answer session is a wonderful opportunity for a one-hour piece of Swanwick magic each month - drop by just to listen to the chat, or, come join in and #AskSwanwick!

In April, the literary agent Meg Davis revealed what it was that agents do, how she prepared to sell her clients' work at the London Book Fair and the top tips for writing and selling TV drama.

For May, we're delight to be talking to the glamorous and sexy Della Galton, novelist, short story writer and journalist. She's had over a thousand short stories published in the UK alone and she's run out of fingers to count her books on. She is a popular speaker at writing conventions and the agony aunt for Writers' Forum magazine. When she is not writing she enjoys walking her dogs around the beautiful Dorset countryside and beaches.

Find out what Della's secret to success is. Just search for the hashtag #AskSwanwick on Monday, 5th May at 8pm (UK Time). To ask a question, tweet using the #AskSwanwick hashtag followed by your question. Our team has put together a short guide to joining in.

Selected highlights of each session are available on the Swanwick website a few weeks after each chat.

We know some of you have been anxiously awaiting news of this year’s Write, Camera, Action! and there has been a delay due to the title having copyright constraints. So, after a great deal of debate and conversation, we are delighted to announce that it is back this year under the new name of Swanwick Page To Swanwick Stage and will be organised as usual by our lovely Katie White.

There will be awards for

• Best Actor/Actress in a Comedy
  
• Best Actor/Actress in a Drama
  
• Best Play, Comedy/Drama
  

voted for by your fellow Swanwickers.

This event is principally to explore script writing but as actors, directors and stage hands are also required for the performance, everyone is welcome. You can come along and watch but there’s no guarantee you won’t be roped in to help out!

First things first, though: if you're like to submit a script, please read the competition guidelines and additional tips on the Swanwick Page to Swanwick Stage page.

Good luck - and see you at 'The Swannies'!